Chennai: Mounds of paper waste, leftover food packets, and campaign posters plastered across walls were common sights in government schools across the city and suburbs that served as polling stations. While politicians unwind and election officials take a breather, the burden of restoring order falls squarely on school staff, who are left to handle the entire clean-up operation.
Extent of the Problem
This time, the number of polling stations varied between 250 to 350 in each zone, of which 95% were schools. On polling day, in many of these centres, posters of candidates were pasted on freshly painted walls, election workers threw food packets carelessly on the campus, and toilets were left stinking. At the Government Model Higher Secondary School in Nandanam, where three classrooms were used as booths, school head K Anjugam said that corporation workers employed on contract cleaned the premises. However, a TOI inspection found that the school walls were still defaced with posters, and food packets were lying inside classrooms.
Challenges in Cleaning
Several school heads said that while other waste items could be cleaned and removed, removing the posters from walls was the biggest challenge. "The gum used is very strong, and three to four layers of sheets are pasted at once. It rips off the paint on walls when teachers try to remove them, causing the wall canvas to be defaced. Whitewashing the walls or repainting them costs at least 5,000 rupees," said M M Rajalakshmi, a retired school head.
Even private schools are not spared. "Every year, it is the same story. At least 10 officials, including agents, are posted at each polling station. There is not one officer in charge of sanitation. Food packets are strewn around, bathrooms are dirtied, and benches and desks are rearranged haphazardly," said K Nandakumar, president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association.
Differing Views
A section of school heads, however, dismissed the issue, stating that it was a part and parcel of the electoral process. "Teachers who go on poll duty will be more inclined towards reaching home after the process," said David Mano, headmaster of Government Model Higher Secondary School, Saidapet.
Chennai chief education officer M Kabir did not respond to calls from TOI.
