Nagpur Teachers Take Up Brooms to Clean Polling Stations
Teachers assigned election duty in Nagpur faced an unexpected task on Wednesday. They had to pick up brooms and clean polling centers themselves. Many government and aided schools handed over for the January 15 elections were in a deplorable state.
Filthy Conditions Shock Staff
Dust, scraps of paper, and old cloth rags littered the classrooms. Some staff members remarked that the cleaning felt more like preparing for Diwali than performing poll duty. Washrooms in several schools were particularly neglected.
Only minimal "water cleaning" had been done in these washrooms. Foul odours and dirty walls remained untouched. A video shared with TOI shows one teacher sweeping the floor at a school.
Teachers Voice Their Concerns
The teacher in the video expressed her frustration. "This is what teachers are subjected to," she said. "We arrive a day before, along with police personnel, to take possession from the school management. At the very least, the school management should hire housekeeping staff to clean the washrooms and classrooms being used for voting."
She pointed out that window sills were filthy. Dust and pigeon droppings accumulated "in horrific amounts." While acknowledging that birds often enter during school hours, she questioned why the mess wasn't cleaned regularly.
Washroom Issues Pose Major Problem
Another female teacher highlighted washroom problems as a serious concern. "In our WhatsApp group, one teacher mentioned that washrooms were not in the same building," she explained. "They were about 100 meters away in an annex. Many others reported that washrooms were so stinking that one had to hold breath while entering."
She added that teachers avoid using these washrooms if possible. "But emergencies happen," she noted. "Men can manage in any type of building, but for women, hygiene is a serious issue."
Association Blames Government Funding
Zafar Khan, founder-president of the School Headmasters Charitable Association, placed responsibility on the government. "The schools we are talking about are government or aided institutions," he stated. "They no longer receive non-salary grants at the level they used to. There are no funds for deep cleaning, and the government appears unconcerned."
Khan mentioned that staffroom toilets are usually opened for female teachers. However, some principals fail to do so. "If the government could provide a one-time housekeeping fund for elections, such problems could be avoided," he suggested.
The situation has left many teachers feeling undervalued. They are now performing cleaning duties alongside their election responsibilities. The lack of basic hygiene facilities at polling stations remains a pressing issue as election day approaches.
