Ahmedabad: A fresh govt order has left teachers angry. School principals and teachers from various districts have been assigned as booth nodal officers for the inauguration of 101 new food distribution centres under the Shramik Annapurna Yojana on Friday. Teachers have raised concerns over the growing burden of non-academic responsibilities affecting their primary duty.The scheme is being implemented by the labour, skill development and employment department. Their duties include ensuring cleanliness at the designated booths, arranging decorations, coordinating with dignitaries attending the inauguration and supervising food delivery agencies. They were instructed to begin preparations two days before the programme.Teachers have previously opposed their deployment for non-academic activities such as elections, census operations, govt surveys, mid-day meal-related work and the organisation of various festivals and public events. Despite repeated objections, they continue to be assigned responsibilities by departments other than the education department.Educationists and teacher organisations maintain that such assignments disrupt regular classroom activities and affect the continuity and quality of education. Teacher organisations have repeatedly demanded that educators be restricted to academic responsibilities, except where deployment is legally required.Teachers are demanding that govt reconsider the practice and ensure that educational responsibilities remain their primary focus.
