Teachers decry flood control room duties in Sangrur

The district administration has assigned 21 government ETT teachers to the duty of telephone operators at the flood control room set up at the tehsil complex in Lehra. The duty will start from July 1 to July 20, while the government schools are set to reopen on July 3 after the month-long summer vacations.

According to the order, the teachers will remain present in the control rooms in two shifts. The first shift will start from 9 am to 5 pm (8-hour shift), while the second shift will start from 5 pm to 9 am (16-hour shift).

The order is a direct violation of claims and announcements made by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. The Punjab CM at various platforms and, also in Vidhan Sabha, had said on multiple occasions that no non-teaching work will be assigned to teachers.

Sukhwinder Gir, district president of the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), said, “The officials are not following the announcements of even the chief minister. Besides, it is almost impossible for the teachers to work in the school after putting in a 16-hour shift at night. Teachers will have no choice but skip coming to schools and perform their teaching duties.”

When contacted Lehra tehsildar Parween Singla said, “The order was issued by the naib tehsildar and I will direct him to amend it.”