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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.

Published on: May 29, 2018, 15:44:35 IST
Hindustan Times, Lucknow | By , Lucknow
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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.

A teacher sent this photo with toilet in the background, in compliance with the earlier order. (Sourced)
A teacher sent this photo with toilet in the background, in compliance with the earlier order. (Sourced)

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.

  • Pawan Dixit
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Pawan Dixit

    Pawan Dixit, Assistant Editor, brings over 20 years of frontline reporting experience to the newsroom. A specialist on Uttar Pradesh politics and governance, he has reported from the ground across the state’s most consequential stories. He cut his teeth in eastern UP, spending 15 years covering the region. Based in Varanasi, he reported the 2012 UP Assembly polls and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections that reshaped the state’s political map. Moving to Lucknow in 2016, he has since led coverage of the 2017 and 2022 UP Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. His reporting tracks the BJP’s strategy, opposition moves, and voter sentiment across all 75 districts. Pawan has been a constant presence in Ayodhya since 2016. He reported the entire arc of the Ram Mandir movement — from the legal fight to the Supreme Court verdict, through temple construction, to the inauguration. He continues to track every development at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. On the state beat, he covers the BJP, the Industrial Development Department, and handles key outstation political assignments. He also reports major cases from the district court, Lucknow bench of the High Court, and the State Information Commission. Along with this, he also reports on NGT's important decisions related to UP. Known for sharp sourcing and clear analysis, Pawan connects politics, policy, infrastructure and faith — the forces driving UP today. He has reported developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir movement since 2016. The Supreme Court's Ram Mandir verdict, temple construction and the its opening have been reported by him. He reports all developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir Trust. He covers state BJP, Industrial development department, outstation political assignments, reports special cases from district court, high court and state information commissionRead More