CHITWAN: All educational institutions have opened in Chitwan district today despite the general strike after district-based political parties, human rights organisations and bodies concerned with students demanded declaring schools as zone of peace.

Stakeholders at a programme organised by the District Education Office, Chitwan, on Sunday, stressed the need of opening schools despite the shutdown and strike. Most of the political parties agreed over declaring schools as zone of peace. A meeting was also held with the representatives of the Tharu Kalyankari Sabha at the initiative of Private and Boarding School's Organisation, Nepal, Chitwan. The Sabha has been calling the district shutdown.

Chitwan PABSON Chairman, Bel Bahadur Gurung, said that the Sabha decided not to obstruct teaching learning activities in the district after the meeting.

As a result, all private and government schools in the district have begun teaching learning activities today. There are around 150,000 students from Grade 1 to 12 in the district.

District Education Officer Damodar Acharya confirmed that schools opened from today.

Meanwhile, businessmen of Narayangadh organised a goodwill motorcycle rally in Bharatpur area this morning calling for an alternative to the shutdown.

The local administration has been escorting vehicles stranded as a result of the banda to their respective destinations.