BAREILLY: Block education officers (BEOs) in Bareilly were instructed earlier this month to collect 1,500 quintals of straw for stray cattle housed in local cow shelters. The order, issued by Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Vineeta Singh, mandated each of the district's 15 BEOs to gather at least 100 quintals from their respective blocks.
Leaked Letter Triggers Controversy
The matter sparked a controversy after a letter issued by Nawabganj BEO Satyadev on May 22 was leaked online. The letter informed teachers that they had exactly seven days to collect the straw, threatening an interdepartmental probe against anyone who failed to comply.
Teacher Outrage
There was fierce resistance from educators. "What are we here for - to teach children or collect straw? It is unacceptable, and if they persist, we will take to the streets," said Bhanu Pratap Singh, a government school teacher.
Officials Distance Themselves
Senior administrative officials distanced themselves from the controversy. Bareilly district magistrate Avinash Singh claimed he had no knowledge of the directive.
Initial Defense and Subsequent Clarification
Defending the move initially, BEO Satyadev alleged that teachers were not complying with departmental orders. "Therefore, instructions to provide fodder were made mandatory earlier," he said. Following the public uproar, Satyadev issued a second letter clarifying that the collection was entirely voluntary. BSA Singh scrambled to reframe the order as a harmless charitable drive rather than a mandate. "It was never compulsory. This is simply a matter of humanity. The concept was merely that if a villager or city resident wanted to donate straw for stray cattle, the local teacher could act as a contact point to help collect it," she told TOI.
About the Author: Krishna Chaudhary, a mass communication graduate, is a Senior Correspondent covering the sugar belt of Western Uttar Pradesh. He loves reporting on crime, politics, and impactful human-interest stories.
