Haryana teachers to work as priests

Saturday 04th November 2017 08:08 EDT
 
 

NEW DELHI: An order asking government teachers to volunteer at the Kapal Mochan Mela in Yamunanagar district has created a massive row. The Haryana government allegedly asked teachers to perform duties of a 'pujari' or priest during the festival, prompting a protest by the teachers association. Jaidev Arya, state advisor to the Haryana Teachers Association, called the order a “Tuqhlaki farman” (diktat). He said, “It is not a teacher's job to work as priest,” adding that in case the state decides to act against teachers, a protest will be launched by the association.

Issued by the Department of Education, the order asked teachers to perform religious duties during the festivals. However, Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said the directive was not issued by the state government. He said, “This could be a directive of the local administration, not our.” Yamunanagar district education officer has now sought an explanation from teachers who failed to turn up for the training ahead of the Mela . “Teachers are supposed to teach, they should be allowed to stay in school and do their job. Teachers are getting dragged into too many non-teaching jobs,” Arya said.

Spokesperson of the state's ruling BJP, Jawahar Yadav said, “We are not forcing anyone to become priests or pushing a religious agenda.” He asserted that only a few teachers had been commissioned for the festival, mainly for arrangements. This isn't the first time state teachers have been assigned work outside of their profile. Sirsa district had recently enlisted educators to keep a watch on stubble-burning- one of the major environmental problems in the state. Teachers had to make all-night vigils as per the order, and also maintain their day jobs in schools.


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