Vocational teachers challenge drug survey deployment
Vocational teachers working in government schools in Jalandhar have raised objections to being assigned duties for the Punjab Government's ongoing drug survey, despite a district administration directive exempting outsourced staff from such tasks. The issue follows a previous protest over Census duties.
Memorandum submitted to ADC
Representatives of the NSQF Vocational Teachers Front submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Divya P on Friday. They alleged that outsourced vocational trainers are being assigned drug survey duties, even though the government notification specifies the exercise is for regular and contractual government employees.
Nearly 270 teachers affected
The development has reignited concerns among nearly 270 outsourced vocational teachers in Jalandhar, who earlier objected to being assigned Census duties. The teachers argue that while they perform academic duties in government schools, they are appointed through private agencies and therefore do not enjoy the status, benefits or protections available to government employees.
Pressure to participate alleged
In the memorandum, the front maintained that the drug survey has been advertised as a voluntary exercise, but teachers from various tehsils have reportedly been pressured to furnish consent for participation. The union alleged that the notices assigning them duties state that refusal could invite administrative action such as FIRs and salary withhold, creating apprehension among employees already working under contractual arrangements through private companies.
Union representative speaks out
“Whenever additional government assignments are floated, outsourced vocational teachers are often treated at par with regular employees. However, when it comes to service benefits, leave facilities, salary structures or employee rights, we are not recognised as government staff,” said Maninder Bains, a union representative in Jalandhar.
Bains further noted, “After we raised concerns over the safety of female vocational teachers during survey work, the district administration assured us that women employees would be exempted from these duties. We appreciate the administration’s response and hope similar consideration will be extended to all outsourced vocational teachers.”
Background of the dispute
The vocational teachers have been consistently raising issues about their treatment as outsourced staff. Earlier, they protested being deployed for Census duties despite a district administration order exempting outsourced personnel. The current drug survey assignment has added to their grievances, as they feel they are being selectively treated as government employees for additional duties but denied corresponding benefits.
