CMC Denies Policy Disputes in Adani Takeover of Cement Nagar School

In response to speculation regarding the transfer of management of Mount Carmel Convent Senior Secondary School to the Adani Foundation, Sister Philo, a senior member of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC), has clarified that the decision was purely a matter of contract expiration, not policy differences. The school, located in Cement Nagar, Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, has recently become a focal point of controversy following its handover to the Adani Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of the Adani Group.

Sister Philo emphasized that the CMC's decision not to renew its contract with ACC Limited, which founded the school in 1972 as part of its CSR initiatives, was made independently of the Adani Group's involvement. "The school was owned by ACC and managed by the CMS sisters. Our agreement with ACC was ending, and we decided not to renew it. There’s no issue with the policy; that information is incorrect. ACC spoke to the Adani Foundation after we communicated our decision," she stated.

This assertion counters earlier claims made by Sister Leena, the former principal of the school, who indicated that the CMC's departure was due to fundamental policy differences with the Adani Group. She remarked, "We moved out on September 1 after handing the school over to the Adani Group. We did not want to work under them, as their commercial priorities differed significantly from ours."

The Adani Foundation responded by stating that the transfer of management was initiated "as per the wishes and decision of the Carmel Education Society to discontinue managing the school," and noted that ACC requested the Foundation to take over in June 2023.

The school, which serves approximately 2,000 students, has drawn criticism from various quarters. Maharashtra Legislative Council member Ambadas Danve expressed concern on social media, claiming that the government is effectively "selling Maharashtra" by handing over vital institutions to the Adani Group. Uddhav Thackeray also weighed in, questioning the appropriateness of allowing the Adani Group to manage educational institutions.

In their official communications, the Adani Foundation highlighted their commitment to infrastructure development, teacher training, and student support services, with plans to achieve National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) accreditation by 2025. Meanwhile, the CMC has requested the removal of "Mount Carmel" from the school's name to signify their disassociation from the institution.