Dakshina Kannada Administration Appeals for Teacher Exemption from Election Duties
The Dakshina Kannada district administration has formally written to the Election Commission, seeking an exemption for high school teachers from booth-level officer (BLO) duties. This request is driven by the critical need for teachers to concentrate on preparing students for the upcoming SSLC examinations scheduled for March.
Administrative Actions and Staffing Adjustments
Additional Deputy Commissioner K Raju revealed this development during a grievance redressal meeting for teachers from schools and pre-university colleges. The meeting was chaired by MLCs SL Bhoje Gowda and Dhananjaya Sarji. Raju explained that the district has already exempted teachers who provided medical reasons and replaced them with other staff members. The administration is currently awaiting a revised list of BLOs from the Election Commission.
"We have sought exemption for high school teachers from BLO duty," Raju stated. "We have exempted teachers who have cited medical reasons and replaced them with other teachers. We are expecting a revised list of BLOs." He expressed hope that the Election Commission would approve the request, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted academic focus during exam season.
Shift in Election Staffing and Teacher Concerns
Raju detailed a recent shift in election staffing, noting that anganwadi and ASHA workers were previously utilized for BLO roles, but the Election Commission now prefers government teachers for these duties. Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari assured that subject teachers were carefully excluded from BLO recommendations to minimize classroom disruption.
However, teacher organizations and school management representatives raised alarms about severe staff shortages. They warned that assigning teachers to election-related tasks could significantly disrupt teaching activities, particularly for SSLC candidates. A representative from the Government Drawing Teachers' Association highlighted that drawing teachers are already filling vacancies in primary and government high schools, and adding BLO duties would further impact student learning.
An aided school management representative echoed these concerns, stating that their institution struggles to spare even one subject teacher for BLO work due to inadequate staffing levels.
Broader Issues and Legislative Responses
MLC SL Bhoje Gowda advocated for exempting teachers and healthcare workers from election duties, labeling education and health as priority sectors. He suggested that personnel from other departments should be utilized instead and stressed the importance of cooperation during election periods. Physical education teacher Tyagam Harikala requested that physical education teachers assigned as BLOs be deployed locally to avoid transfer-related difficulties.
Beyond election duties, teachers raised concerns about health insurance under the Jyothi Sanjeevini Scheme, with one government teacher reporting challenges in accessing treatment at empanelled private hospitals. MLC Dhananjaya Sarji noted that the Central Government Health Scheme rates were revised in October last year, and a similar state revision is anticipated, which could improve service access.
Additional grievances included non-issuance of attendance certificates for participation in the SC/ST survey, prompting Bhoje Gowda to direct administrative action. Lecturers and principals also criticized the non-notification of vacancies in government PU colleges with 40 or fewer students, arguing it undermines teaching quality for rural and economically disadvantaged students. Bhoje Gowda assured that the government would address this recruitment issue promptly.
