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Sitapur: Education department withdraws controversial decision
The basic education department of Sitapur on Friday withdrew its controversial order for primary teachers in which it had directed them to send their photographers with toilet in the background to prove that they were using toilets at home and not going out in the open.
The basic education department of Sitapur on Friday withdrew its controversial order for primary teachers in which it had directed them to send their photographers with toilet in the background to prove that they were using toilets at home and not going out in the open.
Ajay Kumar, Sitapur basic shiksha adhikari, had issued the order on Thursday with a May 27 deadline, failing which the May salary of the defaulters was to be withheld.
The BSA’s order led to resentment among teachers, especially female teachers, of the Sitapur district. There are around 13,600 basic teachers in Sitapur and about half of them are women.
Now, teachers will have to send an undertaking in a format issued by the BSA’s office that they have a toilet at home and none of their family members are going out in open to attend nature’s call.
Hindustan Times had carried a story in its Friday’s edition, ‘Sitapur teachers told to submit photo with toilet in background’.
Interestingly, some male teachers, who were not aware of the BSA’s fresh order issued on Friday morning, sent their photograph with toilets in the background to their respective heads .
“The department has taken a good step by withdrawing its decision. Teachers are always willing to contribute to the cleanliness and open defecation free campaign of the government,” said Sharad Dixit, primary teacher, Khairabad block of Sitapur.
“Better sense prevailed that the department withdrew its decision and now teachers have to send only an undertaking in a fixed format issued by the BSA’s office that they have a toilet at home and none of their family members are going out in open,” said Raj Kishore Singh, district president, Uttar Pradesh Prathmik Shikshak Sangh, Sitapur.
“How can you expect a teacher, especially a female, to get her photograph clicked with a toilet in the background? I could not sleep for the entire night on Thursday thinking about the embarrassing situation,” said a woman primary teacher.
