Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde announces BMC Adarsh Shikshak award will rise to Rs 25,000 from next year

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde announced on Saturday, October 24, that the award money for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Adarsh Shikshak Puraskar will be raised from Rs 11,000 to Rs 25,000 from next year. She made the announcement at the Mayor's Teachers Award ceremony, where 50 teachers were honoured for their contribution to education and for new initiatives to improve children's learning.

The ceremony was held at the Penguin Auditorium of the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo in Byculla. This was the Adarsh Shikshak Mayor's Award for 2025-26. Teachers from BMC primary and special schools, secondary schools, and private aided and unaided schools were selected after interviews.

In her speech, Tawde said teachers play a major role in shaping children's thinking and instilling moral values in them. According to her, teachers build the intellectual and moral foundation of the country and prepare the coming generation for society.

She said technology has changed rapidly. Because of AI, computers and social media, children get a great deal of information easily. She said, "Technology can give the information in all the world's books in a few seconds, but no algorithm in the world can wipe the tears of a distressed child, put a hand on the child's back and say, 'You can do it.' A machine can give information, but only teachers can give life understanding and humanity."

The mayor said the country will complete 100 years of independence in 2047. Teachers preparing children for a technologically advanced India should not stress only examinations and rote learning, she said, but should encourage creative thinking.

Tawde also said education should not be limited to a race for marks. According to her, equal attention must be paid to children's mental health, happiness and emotional well-being. She told teachers that children coming out of BMC schools should become knowledgeable, sensitive and confident citizens who can lead a good life without the burden of too much study. She also mentioned the educational initiatives begun during her tenure as chairperson of the BMC Education Committee.

At present, BMC gives each teacher chosen for the Mayor's Teachers Award an honorarium of Rs 11,000. The amount is paid through ECS (Electronic Clearing Service). At the ceremony, Education Committee chairperson Rajeshree Shirwadkar demanded that the award amount be increased. In response, Tawde announced that the amount would be Rs 25,000 from next year. The teachers present applauded the announcement.

Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi said teachers play a vital role in the development of cities, villages and the country. He spoke of the contribution of BMC school teachers and students to Mumbai's development, and congratulated the awardees and their families.

Shirwadkar described teachers as guides and protectors who play a big role in children's lives. She said that despite advances in artificial intelligence, technology cannot replace teachers. She also spoke about the interviews held for the award and praised the educational initiatives presented by the candidates.

Improvement Committee (City) chairperson Yamini Jadhav said municipal school teachers work for children's education and their all-round development. She said many students of BMC schools have reached high positions in various professions. Deputy Commissioner (Education) Dr Prachi Jambhekar also praised the teachers' initiatives to improve schools and help children's development, and asked other teachers to learn from them.

In all, 50 teachers received the Mayor's Teachers Award for the 2025-26 academic year. Teachers from separate categories of BMC and other schools were interviewed for the selection. The awards were given for new methods of teaching and for initiatives that help children's learning and development.

Those present at the ceremony included Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, Education Committee chairperson Rajeshree Shirwadkar, Improvement Committee (City) chairperson Yamini Jadhav, C and D Ward Committee chairperson Akash Purohit, and corporators Urmila Panchal, Rajeshree Bhatankar and Mehjabeen Atik Ahmed Khan. President's Award-winning teacher Dattatray Ware Guruji, Deputy Commissioner (Education) Dr Prachi Jambhekar, and education officers Sujata Khare and Kirtivardhan Kiritkudve were also present.