The Rajasthan government has issued a directive to all state-run schools, mandating the immediate removal of stray dogs from their campuses. This move, following similar orders in Maharashtra and Delhi, has ignited strong protests from teaching staff who argue they are already overburdened with academic and non-teaching responsibilities.
Directive Details and Supreme Court Mandate
Earlier this week, the state's secondary education department released an official order. It instructed all government schools to "immediately arrange for removal of stray dogs from school premises." The directive explicitly states that school heads must coordinate with municipal authorities, local elected bodies, and the district administration to carry out this task.
The order places the responsibility for campus upkeep and security squarely on the school in-charge or principal. It mandates that administrative heads ensure campuses are properly secured with adequate fencing, boundary walls, and gates. This directive was issued in compliance with a Supreme Court order aimed at making school environments safer for children.
Teachers' Union Voices Strong Opposition
The order has faced sharp criticism from Rajasthan's teaching community. The Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh (Ekikrit) has labeled the directive as "ridiculous" and an "insult" to teachers.
Ranjeet Meena, the president of the union, highlighted the existing burden on educators. "Teachers in Rajasthan already have several responsibilities which are not related to academics, including BLO (Booth Level Officer) duties," Meena stated. He pointed to a similar order in Delhi that was later withdrawn following teacher protests, arguing that the task of dog removal should be assigned to personnel other than teachers.
Government Clarifies Stance
In response to the backlash, School Education Minister Madan Dilawar claimed teachers were misinterpreting the order. He clarified that the directive does not explicitly ask teachers to remove the dogs themselves. Using an analogy, Dilawar said, "If a stray animal enters someone's house, then the one living in it shoos it away. We do not call someone else to remove a stray from our house." He reiterated that the guidelines were purely for student safety, following the Supreme Court's order.
The government's directive also includes additional safety measures:
- Conducting awareness sessions for students and staff on safe behaviour around animals.
- Training on first aid for bites and immediate reporting protocols.
- Mapping local health facilities for rabies vaccination and treatment.
- Regular inspections every three months by the chief block education officer to ensure compliance.
The order warns that serious lapses could lead to fixing responsibility on the head of the institution. Director of Secondary Education, Sitaram Jat, was unavailable for comment despite attempts to reach him.
