MP govt tells school teachers to dig pits for toilets in villages

BHOPAL/SAGAR: Government school teachers in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh are furious after they were assigned a special duty — digging holes for toilets in villages under a one-day movement named ‘Swacchta hi sewa’ on Sunday. The event was organised by the BJP government to celebrate PM Narendra Modi’s birthday.

The district education officer in Tikamgarh issued a letter to teachers on Friday that under the programme, holes would be dug for construction of toilets in different village panchayats on Sunday and teachers should contribute to the campaign with their subordinate staff.

The letter underlined only the event’s name, not Modi’s birthday.

“In a meeting of district administration, the decision was taken to boost the Swacchta campaign introduced by Modi. The administration was given a target to organise swacchta rallies and also help panchayats dig holes for toilets. In the letters, we have not mentioned anything about the birthday of the PM but a discussion took place that the message should be conveyed orally that the event is being organised to celebrate the birthday as a swachta sewa,” said an officer.

The government order left the teachers incensed and humiliated. Madhya Pradesh Adhyapak Sangharsh Samiti vice-president Vivek Khare said: “The administration is not leaving any stone unturned to hurt the dignity of teachers. The order clearly states that the teachers have to dig holes for construction of toilets. The campaign and movement shouldn’t be run by hitting honour of teachers.”