Exclusive: The Shocking Cost Behind the ‘Royal Poson Bakthi Geetha’ Program costing millions of rupees

Wow, the Bhakti Geetha program at Royal College is truly a cultural extravaganza! Eight hundred young stars from grades 1-5, all ready to shine for their grand five-minute moment on stage—what a way to foster participation and school spirit! It’s heartwarming to see such enthusiasm… and, well, such creative financial planning behind the scenes.

Now, I couldn’t help but notice the modest fees for this spectacular event: Rs. 1,450 for costumes (a real bargain for those high-fashion, five-minute outfits!) and another Rs. 1,600 for, let’s call them, miscellaneous event vibes. That’s a cool Rs. 3,050 per student, which, for 800 kids, adds up to a tidy Rs. 2.4 million. Not bad for a school event, right? I mean, who needs blockbuster movie budgets when you’ve got this kind of fundraising flair?

Here’s the thing, though. I vaguely recall some fussy guidelines from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education—something about no payments being collected at schools? Silly circulars, always getting in the way of a good time! And then there’s that pesky rule about voluntary contributions or sponsorships needing to flow through the School Development Society (SDS) with, you know, proper procurement processes and financial transparency. I’m sure it’s just an oversight that these millions are reportedly zipping into personal bank accounts instead. Happens to the best of us!

Oh, and those costumes Rs. 1,450 each for 800 students? Such economies of scale! If someone’s pocketing, say, a humble Rs. 100 commission per costume, that’s a neat Rs. 80,000. Pocket change, really, but imagine what other creative margins might be hiding in those other expenses, especially when procurement seems to be more of a solo adventure than a transparent team effort. Gosh, it’s almost like a masterclass in event planning… or something else entirely.

Look, I’m just a concerned bystander, marveling at how Royal College manages to pull off such a dazzling show while sidestepping those boring ministry rules. But maybe, just maybe, it’s time for a little spring cleaning? Perhaps a quick chat with the SDS, a peek at those bank statements, or a friendly reminder to follow the Education Ministry’s playbook? I’m sure you’ll agree that keeping things above board would make this wonderful Bhakti Geetha program even more inspiring for our kids and their families.

Here’s to making the next event a shining example of culture and accountability. You’ve got this, right?


2025/07/12 Update

Normally, the SDS (School Development Society) takes around six months even to to issue school fee receipts. However, after the issue was highlighted, they unexpectedly processed receipts within just two weeks for approximately 800 students, charging Rs. 1,600 per student.

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