Public anger over apathetic attitude of Government teachers and dereliction toward their duties erupted in Jaunsar area of Dehradun district on Monday as activists of Navkranti Swaraj Morcha (NSM) observed bandh and engaged in road blocks. The members of the morcha assembled in the Sahia, Chakrata and Kaksi and engaged in vehement protest against the Government teachers. The NSM also blocked vehicular traffic for some time in Sahia. The Morcha is engaged in a campaign against the teachers who usually skip their schools or are late in arrival to their respective schools.
The spokesperson of the Morcha, Gajendra Joshi told The Pioneer that large numbers of teachers posted in the Chakrata and Kalsi blocks are not serious in their duties. “In many schools the teachers are present for only 10- 15 days in a month and in most of the schools the teachers have entered into an understanding among themselves according to which they take turns to leaves which are unregistered. Almost all schools in these blocks are remote and it makes easy for these teachers as their vanishing act go unnoticed. Further all these teachers live in Dehradun and undertake long journeys to reach the school and in the process they reach schools late and leave before scheduled time,’’ he said.
The people of the area blame the apathetic behavior of the teachers for dismal state of the education in the area and appear determined to teach a lesson to such teachers.
The teachers on the other hand deny the charges of the Morcha. “Most of the allegations are incorrect. The members of the morcha are unnecessary harassing teachers from quite some time now. Yes it is true that many teachers commute long distances daily to reach the school but they reach the school on time. The department should install biometric attendance systems in the schools to ensure proper attendance of the teachers but such behavior of the Morcha members is not acceptable. last week some of the locals harassed some teachers while they were travelling and its video also went viral. Such incidences are unfortunate and we demand proper security for the teachers,’’ said a female teachers posted in the Chakrata block.
The district President of the Prathemik Shikshak Sangh (PSS) Virendra Singh Krishali said that local should not take up law into their hands. He said that if they have problem with some teachers then they should submit complaints against them as there is proper system is in place in the department and Government. Recently many young and highly qualified teachers have been posted in the Chakrata and Kalsi blocks and to blame all teachers is not correct, Krishali added.