Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 12: A delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) today called on Naresh Kumar, Additional Commissioner in the office of the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, and raised several issues concerning the large-scale deputation of teaching staff for Census 2027 duties across Jammu Division.
The delegation, headed by JKTF Chief Patron Ganesh Khajuria and JKTF President Bharat Bhushan, submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting the practical difficulties being faced by teachers due to repeated engagement in non-academic assignments and urged the administration to take corrective measures in the interest of both teachers and students.
The delegation particularly stressed upon the difficulties faced by female teaching staff in performing door-to-door census survey duties. The representatives informed the Additional Commissioner that the women employees across Jammu Division are already balancing professional responsibilities with family obligations and are finding it extremely difficult to undertake extensive field work in far-flung and remote areas. They said that safety concerns, long-distance travel, lack of transport facilities and household responsibilities make such assignments highly stressful for female staff members.
The delegation also expressed serious concern over the large-scale deputation of teachers from schools for Census 2027 work. They informed the authorities that in several cases five to six staff members are being deputed from a single institution, severely affecting the normal functioning of schools.
In its memorandum, the JKTF urged the administration to exempt female staff of the Education Department from door-to-door census survey duty and instead assign them indoor or table work related to census operations. The Forum also requested the authorities to issue clear directions to all DCs, CEOs and ZEOs that not more than one staff member should be deputed from a single school for census work. The delegation further suggested that existing BLOs may be considered for census-related assignments so that additional burden on schools can be minimised.
Addl Commissioner Naresh Kumar gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured the members that the genuine concerns projected by JKTF would be taken up with the concerned authorities for appropriate consideration and necessary action.
Other members of the JKTF delegation included Ashwani Sharma, Surinder Kumar, Rashpal Dass and Bachan Lal.
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