Census duty will affect academics: Govt school teachers

TNNLudhiana: With much of the staff in govt schools deployed on census duty, studies may be affected adversely, govt school teachers said. They told the district administration that not more than 40% of the staff should be deployed.In a memorandum addressed to the DC, govt school teachers urged the district administration toaddress several concerns related to deployment of teachers andemployees for census duties. Assistant commissioner Payal Goyal received the memorandum, in which union demanded immediate intervention.The union expressed concern about deployment of nearly 90% of the staff ingovt schools across the district for census work. Describing it as an unreasonable move, they said it was implemented right at the beginning of the the new academic session.Union president Tehal Singh Sarabha said that in several schools, more than 90% teachers had been deputed for census work. In some cases, the entire staff had been assigned duties, he said, citing the example of a govtschool in Ranian village, where all 10 teachers had reportedly beendeployed. He also said this was the case with most primary schools.Members said that on April 24, schools received a circular seeking reports from institutions where more than 50% of the staff had been deputed for census work. However, they complained that no revision or relief was provided.The union demanded that only 40% of the teaching staff be deputed for census duties and that employees from other govt departments be engaged proportionately.Key demands raised by the union included provision of a special insurance cover of Rs 2 crore for all employees engaged in census duties from the beginning till completion of the exercise.Referring to the death of a teacher couple during election duty in Moga in Dec last year, union members said the incident highlighted the need for stronger insurance andsafety provisions for teachers deployed on govt duties. Unionmembers complained that personnel from some departments receivecompensation of more than Rs 1 crore in such cases but teachers often do notreceive similar benefits.The union also sought adequate security arrangements for employees,especially women, during field duties. It demanded deployment of police personnel along with census teams to ensure workers’ safety.Employees objectionsUnion members said teachers were expected to conduct surveys after 2pm andevery teacher would have to cover nearly 180 to 200 households between May15 and June 13Conducting surveys after school hours was impractical aseach household survey was expected to take at least 40 to 50 minutesThe staff deployed should be provided relief from schools and offices for atleast four days a week so that they could effectively perform assignedwork The teachers said they had already been engaged in duties of election related data collection, Teerath Yatra Scheme and othernon-teaching assignmentsThey said the additional burden would adversely affect studies in schools.The union also sought exemption from census duties for differently-abledemployees, those suffering from serious illnesses, employees withcritically ill family members, pregnant women employees, mothers ofchildren below five years of age, and employees above the age of 55 years.Teachers hope that the district administration would seriously consider thedemands and take necessary action at the earliest, Sarabha said.