Teachers in Belagavi, Karnataka, took a firm stand on September 23, launching a protest against their mandated involvement in the ongoing social and educational survey. Their primary grievance? Being assigned arduous door-to-door survey duties despite suffering from illnesses, advanced age, or various disabilities.
The educators gathered outside the tahsildar’s office, refusing to participate in the physically demanding survey tasks. They highlighted that officials from the Education Department had issued mandatory duty slips without considering their personal circumstances or health conditions, leading to significant distress.
Many protesting teachers voiced their struggles, explaining, “A significant number of us are unwell or on the brink of retirement. There are also pregnant teachers and those with physical disabilities who find it incredibly difficult to walk or move around. Yet, even these individuals have been ordered to report for survey duty.” They urged immediate intervention from higher authorities to address their plight.
Following the demonstration, a delegation of teachers met with Tahsildar Basavaraj Nagaral to formally present their memorandum of demands. While Mr. Nagaral acknowledged their concerns, he stated that the government of Karnataka’s existing rules regarding such duties could not be arbitrarily altered. However, he offered a glimmer of hope, assuring the representatives that he would consult with senior officials to explore potential exemptions for those with severe physical ailments and disabilities.