Exempt those above 50 from poll duty, teachers urge EC

Chennai

As per the Rights to Education (RTE) Act, teachers from government, aided and private institutions are allowed to be deployed on work related to census, disasters and elections. For election-related works, teachers are appointed as presiding officers, booth in-charge, booth slip distributors and counting. However, unlike in the past, they face a serious risk due to pandemic situation.

A senior official from the School Education Department said more than half of the 5.6 lakh teachers in the State are above 50, and many suffer from health disorders like diabetes and hypertension. A recent study by the Dr MGR Medical University had revealed that about 57 per cent of teachers aged between 40 and 50 have hypertension. The risk could go up if they catch the virus.

According to Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association president PK Ilamaran, the authorities have selected even those above 55 years for poll duty. “Other than diabetes and hypertension, many teachers suffer from heart and kidney ailment. The government should exempt such teachers from election duty,” he said.

Ilamaran added that they have decided to submit a representation in this regard to the ECI and State government.

DC Elangovan, secretary, Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, said many private school teachers also suffer from various diseases and disorders due to severe stress. Urging the government not to enlist those above 50 from poll related works, he added: “Or, the government should at least consider providing the vaccine for COVID-19 virus on priority to all the teachers as is being planned in the case of health workers.”

S Dhandapani, a 43-year-old Tamil teacher from an aided higher secondary school in Washermenpet, who has hypertension, said differently-abled teachers should also be exempted from election duty.