Pregnant teachers protest field work amid scorching heat in Haryana

Gurgaon: Amid intense heat, the ongoing census duty is making things difficult for govt school staffers deployed for the exercise. Teachers — especially — are a harried lot.The house listing phase is underway since May 1. As the deadline — May 25 — looms, pregnant teachers have emerged as the most vulnerable group. Multiple cases of women in advanced stages of pregnancy being assigned field duties that require extensive door-to-door visits have surfaced.While temperatures continue to soar across the region, several teachers allege that repeated appeals for relief on medical and humanitarian grounds are being ignored.In one instance, a teacher undergoing a critical IVF pregnancy reportedly sought exemption through proper administrative channels, but her request is still pending. Colleagues say such assignments not only disregard medical advice but also pose serious health risks in extreme heat conditions.Gurgaon teachers said that despite clear provisions like child care leave (CCL) — a policy that allows women employees to take paid leave to care for children or manage maternal responsibilities — no consideration is being extended in census deployment.Introduced by the govt to support working mothers, CCL is often invoked during pregnancy-related complications as well, but teachers claim that the urgency of census work has overridden such safeguards.With the deadline nearing, teachers are urging authorities to reconsider deployment norms, especially for vulnerable groups, and to introduce flexible arrangements that balance national duty with basic human considerations.“We are not refusing duty, but there has to be some sensitivity. Assigning physically demanding fieldwork to pregnant women in this heat is simply not humane,” a Gurgaon teacher, requesting anonymity, said.The census exercise, for which training began in early April with a mandatory three-day session for teachers, has placed a significant burden on school staff. Teachers said they are required to manage both school responsibilities and census work simultaneously, often marking attendance in the morning, heading out for enumeration during the day, and returning in the evening to sign out.“There is no coordination. Half the staff is out in the field, and those left behind are struggling to manage classes. At the same time, we are under pressure to meet strict census deadlines,” another Gurgaon teacher said.Adding to the anxiety, at least five FIRs have reportedly been registered against teachers for noncompliance or delays in census duties, creating what many describe as a climate of fear. Educators argue that the threat of legal action, combined with physical exhaustion, is severely affecting morale.Teachers also flagged logistical issues, including lack of transport support and delayed remuneration. The compensation — around Rs 9,000 — is paid only after completion of the duty, while daily travel expenses are borne by teachers themselves, often involving distances of more than 10-15 km.“Even those with health issues are not spared. One teacher who recently underwent eye surgery fell seriously ill after fieldwork and is now bedridden,” said a teacher from a govt school in Gurgaon.MCG commissioner and chief census officer Pradeep Dahiya told TOI on Monday, “There will be exemptions for the women in advanced stage pregnancies and those on child care leave.” District education officer Indu Boken said the department has limited authority in such matters. “Census duty is not detailed by us. Any request that we receive, we forward to the concerned office for necessary action,” she said.Employees say academic work is suffering due to staff shortages. More than 15,000 teaching posts are already vacant in Haryana schools, and in some cases, a single teacher is managing entire schools while also being assigned census duties.