‘We are here to educate kids, not ...’: Massive row after Bareilly education officers ordered to collect cattle fodder

BAREILLY: In a bizarre administrative direction, block education officers (BEO) in Bareilly were ordered to collect 1,500 quintals of straw for stray cattle housed in local cow shelters. The order by Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Vineeta Singh earlier this month mandated each of the district's 15 BEOs to collect at least 100 quintals of the fodder from their respective blocks.The matter ignited a huge controversy after an official letter issued by Nawabganj BEO, Satyadev, on May 22 following the BSA's order was leaked online. The letter explicitly warned teachers that they had exactly seven days to gather the straw, threatening an interdepartmental probe against anyone who failed to comply.As per the directive, every single school under Nawabganj BEO’s jurisdiction was expected to deliver 46 kg of straw to the block development officer or the veterinary office within a week.The order met with fierce resistance from educators who feel the system treats them as free, multi-purpose labour rather than professionals. "What exactly are we here for—to educate children or collect straw? It is inappropriate to force teachers into this. Today they want us to carry bags of straw, tomorrow they will tell us to collect cow dung or sweep floors. It is unacceptable, and if they persist, we will take to the streets," said Bhanu Pratap Singh, a government school teacher.Singh pointed out that teachers are already stretched thin balancing classroom duties with the ongoing national Census. “Forcing these kinds of tasks on us destroys our morale,” he said.“If a teacher is busy with such tasks, when will they teach? It seems someone is deliberately trying to tarnish our image,” said teacher Rita Batra. Teacher Ramesh Maurya echoed similar sentiments, saying, “We will always do work that aligns with the dignity of our profession. But this current order crosses the line.”As public criticism intensified on social media, senior administrative officials quickly distanced themselves from the controversy. Bareilly district magistrate Avinash Singh claimed he had absolutely no knowledge of the directive.Defending the move initially, BEO Satyadev alleged that teachers were not complying with departmental orders. “Therefore, instructions to provide fodder were made mandatory earlier,” he said.Following the public uproar, Satyadev issued a second letter clarifying that it was entirely voluntary.BSA Singh scrambled to reframe the order as a harmless charitable drive rather than a mandate. "It was never compulsory. This is simply a matter of humanity. The concept was merely that if a villager or city resident wanted to donate straw for stray cattle, the local teacher could act as a contact point to help collect it," she told TOI.