Poll panel's abrupt call to duty makes teachers sulky

Over 7,000 ZP and civic school teachers appointed as booth level officers by Election Commission asked to collect contact details of voters at a time when academic year's just begun and workload is punishing

Over 7,000 ZP and civic school teachers appointed as booth level officers by Election Commission asked to collect contact details of voters at a time when academic year's just begun and workload is punishing

As per the directives of the Election Commission (EC), over 7,000 teachers from the Zilla Parishad (ZP) and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) schools have been entrusted with the task of collecting contact details of voters in the district. Accordingly, the teachers have to double as booth level officers (BLO) and go to the homes of voters and note down their landline and mobile numbers and email addresses. Coming at a time when schools have just reopened after a long break, the directive has sent teachers into a frenzy. Should they cater to their school children or run around getting details of voters is the constant refrain among teachers.


The election commission wants your contact details: Voters in
the district will be asked for their landline and mobile phone numbers
and email addresses by teachers appointed as booth level officers in
the latest data collection exercise ordered by the Election Commission.
The idea is to create awareness among voters using technology, say
election officers.

Senior officials from the election department said the work should have been completed last November itself, when voter information was being collected. Apurva Wankhede, deputy district election officer, said about 11 per cent of the work to collect voter details was already over. "I don't know the mystery behind this unexpected order given by the EC during these crucial days when schools have just started. We have no option but to follow the orders without asking questions," Wankhede said.u00a0 Wankhede said though the task was cumbersome, the idea was to create a nationwide network of voters and impart the latest information to them. "The commission also wants to create awareness among the voters through SMS," she said.

Edu dept helpless
Ramchandra Jadhav, education officer, PMC, said over 2,000 of its teachers were working as BLOs for the
election department. "I heard the additional work of gathering information has started. We shall take care of the school work and ensure students do not loss out," he said. Vidya Shende, education officer, Zilla Parishad, said: "We have to follow the directives without any complaints. It is our duty." Vishnu Jadhav, education officer, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation also chose to concur with Shende.u00a0

Too much work
Shobha Kamble, ZP teacher, Wadgaon, said: "I have to work in the evening to gou00a0to the houses of voters to
collect the information. The election office is not even paying for the petrol charges incurred by us. The election office should have informed us in advance." Ravindra Pathare, a state government employee, said that a remuneration of just Rs 250 per month for all the legwork was a measly sum. "It is not possible to go and get information from every voter in 60 days. We have to work on Sundays and holidays, irrespective of the daily work. I don't know when I can go to my office and complete the pending work," he said.

November bypoll
The election in Khadakwasala Assembly Constituency has been scheduled for November following the demise of MLA Ramesh Wanjale on June 10. Arun Kanaskar, assistant election officer, said that a total of 345 BLOs have been given directives to complete their task as early as possible. "The actual election process may start within the next three months," he said.