Exempt toll fee for polling station officers: Assn

Madurai/Trichy: The Tamil Nadu Primary School Teachers Association, Madurai district branch, has requested Madurai district collector and district election officer, Madurai, to provide complete exemption from toll gate fees for polling station officers travelling in private four-wheelers for election training sessions and on election day, and to allocate minimum time for polling station officers to have breakfast and lunch without a break on election day.P Srinivasan, district secretary of the association, said that earlier, election officers were taken to the election offices without having to use their own vehicles. "Since we have to use our own vehicles for this election, we are requesting at least an exemption from the toll for the services offered." Srinivasan also said that training sessions for polling station officers involved in the assembly election have been scheduled on April 2, 11, 20 and 22.He also requested the allocation of suitable time for polling station officers to have breakfast and lunch during their continuous 12-hour duty on election day.Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu higher secondary school graduate teachers association has urged chief electoral officer Archana Patnaik to postpone the first phase of election training scheduled for March 28, citing its overlap with the ongoing Class 10 public examinations.In a representation, A Malaikozhunthan, state president of the association pointed out that the examination began on March 11 and will conclude only on April 2. It noted that the Science examination, considered crucial, is slated for March 30—just two days after the proposed training session.The association emphasised that teachers play a critical role in providing last-minute revision and guidance, particularly for students from govt schools and economically weaker backgrounds. Conducting election training during this period would deprive students of essential academic support and could adversely impact their performance and overall pass percentage, the release said.Highlighting the importance of prioritising students' academic needs, the association requested the chief electoral officer to reschedule the training sessions after April 2.