Visva Bharati teachers flag stressful poll duty to VC

Teachers of West Bengal’s Visva Bharati University have written to Vice Chancellor Probir Kumar Ghosh over “extremely stressful” poll-related duties, seeking immediate intervention of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

In a letter dated April 26, several faculty members of the central university said they were under “extreme mental and physical stress” due to continuous deployment for poll-related work across districts.

The first phase of elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

“We are constrained to draw your urgent attention,” the teachers said in the letter, noting that many of them had been assigned duties in different parts of the South 24 Parganas district and asked to report by April 28 morning, barely a day after completing assignments in Birbhum.

“Some have to travel as far as Sagar Island. Given the limited transport options and very short notice, it will be extremely difficult to reach on time,” it stated.

The faculty members pointed out that even on April 26, they were attending training sessions for counting day observers, leaving them little time to rest before their next deployment.

“At this time of the year, this is extremely stressful on health. This is also severely affecting our primary responsibility - teaching,” they said.