Heat, workload hit teachers on census duty

Ludhiana: The atmosphere in govt schools of Ludhiana is tense. Teachers’ nerves are frayed and exhaustion is writ large on their faces. They do not seem to be in the mood to entertain students’ doubts. Census duties have started in Ludhiana. The timing is bad.

After a slew of “stern action” threats by the administration, teachers feel flagging concerns is a futile exercise, which deepens their sense of helplessness and frustration.

Talking to TOI, many of them narrated ordeals of travelling long distances to duty areas from their schools and homes, that too in peak heatwave time.

According to the teachers, they have been directed to perform census duties before or after school hours to maintain educational schedule of schools. However, they said they cannot juggle both duties at the same time.

A few teachers said the workload each of them faced is beyond their capacity as they were expected to cover a large number of buildings, houses and areas.

The long distances only make the crisis greater.

“The total distance from my house to the duty area is around 18 kilometres and from the school it is about 12 kilometres. Our school operates in the evening shift. It is very difficult for me and my colleagues to balance both duties at the same time,” said a govt school teacher.

A few teachers explained how taxing it is to work in temperatures reaching around 40 degrees Celsius.

“Given the fact that we can conduct the census only after school hours, we can perform this duty only after 12pm. This is peak heatwave time when exposure is ill-advised and harmful,” said another teacher.

As teachers are consumed by census duties, education is playing second fiddle, feel school heads and principals.

“A number of employees from my school have been appointed to these duties. My school works in the double shift and every day, employees are occupied with these duties. Only a few, who have some medical or urgent personal reasons, have been exempted,” said a govt school principal.

Union leaders are planning a meeting to discuss the issues faced by teachers.

Rupinder Pal Singh Gill, district general secretary, Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) said, “The union will plan a meeting regarding this on Sunday. Several teachers have submitted requests seeking changes in census duty schedule in accordance with the routine school duties. However, authorities have yet not responded to their requests.”