Teachers and non-teaching staff from schools across Maharashtra have made a strong appeal to the state government. They are seeking a declared paid day off following their exhausting election duty assignments. The demand highlights the severe physical strain and logistical challenges faced by these personnel during the polling process.
Gruelling Hours and Exhaustion Drive the Demand
The Maharashtra Progressive Teachers Association (MPTA) has formally raised this issue. In representations sent to the Chief Minister, the State Election Commissioner, and the Education Minister, the association detailed the ordeal. While polling officially concludes at 5 pm, the duties of the assigned staff are far from over.
They must remain at their posts until the final voter has cast a ballot. This is followed by the critical tasks of sealing the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), completing extensive paperwork, and safely transporting all election materials to designated collection centres. This process routinely stretches deep into the night.
The cumulative effect is a continuous work shift lasting between 30 to 35 hours for many. Despite this marathon effort, they are expected to report back to their regular school duties the very next morning without any respite.
Late-Night Travel and Broken Precedent Add to Distress
The situation is particularly severe in the Mumbai metropolitan region. A significant number of teachers and staff commute from far-flung suburban and peripheral areas. The MPTA specifically named Vasai, Virar, Mira Road, Bhayander, Kalyan, Karjat, Badlapur, and Ambernath.
For these individuals, concluding duties after midnight makes the journey home not only tiring but also a safety concern. MPTA President Tanaji Kamble explained that teachers often need to report to their assigned polling stations as early as 5 am. Their responsibilities then extend well past midnight.
"In effect, teachers end up working for nearly 35 hours with little or no rest," Kamble stated. He pointed out that in previous election cycles, a compensatory rest day was typically granted. The absence of this relief in the current scenario has intensified the staff's distress. He noted that even the festival of Makar Sankranti was treated as a working day for those on election duty this time.
Growing Support for a Humanitarian Policy Decision
The call for a rest day is gaining support from other educational bodies. Dr. Madhav Suryavanshi, chief coordinator of the Shikshan Vikas Manch at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, has endorsed the demand. He described it as both reasonable and humanitarian.
Dr. Suryavanshi has urged the state administration to take a positive policy decision. The proposed measure would grant a sanctioned paid rest day to all school teaching and non-teaching staff who are deployed for election duties. This, supporters argue, is the least that can be done for citizens who perform this critical democratic function at great personal cost.
The association's appeal underscores a systemic issue in managing human resources during elections. It brings to light the need for formal protocols to ensure the well-being of the thousands of school staff who form the backbone of the polling process across the state.
