Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has responded to claims by teachers` unions in state that 1,621 teachers and support staff have died of Covid-19 while on panchayat poll duty in UP. Countering the claim, the state government has said that only three teachers died during panchayat election duty. The Primary Teachers Association had released a list claiming that 1,621 teachers, instructors, shiksha mitras and employees have died due to Covid-19 in all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh while they were on duty during the state panchayat elections.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has responded to claims by teachers` unions in state that 1,621 teachers and support staff have died of Covid-19 while on panchayat poll duty in UP. Countering the claim, the state government has said that only three teachers died during panchayat election duty. The Primary Teachers Association had released a list claiming that 1,621 teachers, instructors, shiksha mitras and employees have died due to Covid-19 in all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh while they were on duty during the state panchayat elections.
The Teacher’s Union had also raised questions over the state government’s decision to hold panchayat elections while the state was reeling under the second wave of the pandemic. The union had argued that the election could have been postponed in view of the surge in the growing number of infections and that it resulted in the deaths of 1,621 employees. However, the state government’s Basic Education Council has claimed that only three teachers died due to coronavirus during the panchayat polls period in UP.
The state council in a statement clarified that the election period covers the time between when an individual leaves for electoral work, undergoes training and goes home after the election duty. Hence, only three teachers died during this period from Covid-19 while on poll duty.
On the other hand, the UP Primary Teachers Employees Union president Dinesh Chandra Sharma has claimed that 706 teachers had succumbed to coronavirus by the third round of panchayat polls. The death toll climbed to more than 1,600 by the time counting of votes was done. However, the government has accepted only three deaths. An ex-gratia compensation of Rs 30 lakh will be provided to the families of the three deceased.
Earlier, on May 16, the union had sent a list of eight demands to the chief minister. The demands included financial assistance of Rs 1 crore for kin of deceased teachers, all the teachers, shiksha mitras, instructors and employees who were on election duty, and also employment for the families of teachers and support staff who died while on poll duty.
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