With members in Rajya Sabha expressing concern over deployment of teachers on poll duties, government today assured that the matter will be conveyed to the Election Commission as part of the electoral reform process.
The assurance by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad came during a discussion on a private member bill, moved by Tiruchi Siva (DMK). Convinced by Prasad's assurance, Siva decided to withdraw the Constitution Amendment Bill 2015 (Amendment of article 324).
Earlier, the DMK member had made a passionate plea that teachers should not be enrolled for poll duty and asked the government to consider deploying unemployed youth for this purpose.
"Tiruchi Siva has articulated a very serious concern. I do appreciate his concern that teachers must be put to maximum use for teaching the students only...I want to assure that these concerns shall be conveyed to the Election Commission (EC)," Prasad said, while intervening in the debate.
Stating that holding polls was in the domain of the EC, he said the poll body "should do the best while upholding the majesty of free and fair elections" and hoped that the EC would take pro-active measures in this regard.
He assured that the views of DMK member will also be included in the all-party meeting on electoral reforms with the Election Commission. "We need to further improve the electoral system. These are in the pipeline," he said.
Prasad said that elections are not held in any state during the examination period.
Earlier replying to the debate, Minister of State for Law and Justice P P Chaudhary said teachers were being deployed for poll duties on holidays and non-teaching hours as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
Moreover, he said it was not only teachers, but officers from other departments, local authorities and government companies who are also enrolled for poll duties. "It is wrong to say that it is a wastage of time," Chaudhary said.
He noted that there were lakhs of polling booths across the country and hence "teachers alone are not enough" to conduct free and fair polls.
Stating that participating in the election process was a national duty and service, Chaudhary ruled out outsourcing this job to private parties.
He also suggested that "not only teachers, but students should also participate in the process of elections" for a healthy democratic process.
Chaudhary said even in the Right to Education Act,
provision has been made that services of teachers can be taken for election purposes. He also said the Prime Minister has suggested holding simultaneous holding of Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
The Minister said the amendment Bill moved by Siva was devoid of any merit and urged him to withdraw it.
Unconvinced with the Chaudhary's reply, he refused to withdraw the Bill and charged that the government did not have a soft corner for the teachers. "Lawmakers should have a human approach," Siva said.
Later, Chaudhary assured Siva that the poll reform process was in the pipeline and his suggestion will be taken into consideration.
Participating in the discussion on the measure, members cutting across party lines, supported the legislation.
While initiating the discussion, Tiruchi Siva, who moved it, said deployment of teachers on election duties was against the interest of the students.
"Putting teachers on election duty adds to the distress of the students. It also leads to non-completion of the syllabus and lack of learning for the students," Siva said.
He said over 7 lakh posts of teachers were lying vacant across the country and in such a situation, putting them on election duties does not make sense.
On hearing that the country had so many teaching positions lying vacant, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar to bring the matter to the notice of the HRD Minister.
Commenting on the dismal condition of the education system, Siva while citing an ISRO report said that only 26 per cent of engineering graduates who passed out were employable. "This unemployability will increase if teachers are deployed for non-teaching duties," he said.
Giving example of US and Australia, he said in these countries volunteers opt for election duties. "Why can't our country follow the same," he asked and suggested that even retired teachers could be deployed for poll duties as they knew the process pretty well.
"In the interest of students and to end the suffering of teachers, I urge the members to adopt the Bill," Siva said.
Viplove Thakur (Congress) said children would not be able to progess if education system is weak. "Like potatoes, teachers are made to fit in every kind of job including election duties," she said.
"In rural areas where there is always a scarcity of teachers, even there, teachers are drafted for election duties. It hampers students' progress," she said, adding other government officals could also be used for poll duties.
Other members including Vijila Sathyananth and N Krishnan (both AIADMK), KVP Ramachandra Rao, R Anand Bhaskar (both Cong), Vijaysai Reddy (YSR Congress), Bhushan Lal Jangde and Shankarbhai Vegad (both BJP) also spoke.
