School volunteer ‘harassed’ by BPEO; inquiry marked

LUDHIANA: An inquiry has been marked into “mental harassment” allegation against block primary education officer (BPEO) Mangat II Indu Sood. The BPEO has been alleged of harassing Gagandeep Kaur, an education volunteer at Government Primary School, Sekhewal, by giving her a negative marking on her experience sheet.
Gagandeep, a temporary employee, who has been teaching for many years, wanted to fill out the experience certificate to get a regular job under the new scheme of the department.
Therefore, she approached BPEO Indu Sood on Wednesday to get the experience sheet filled however, the BPEO wrote negative comments on the certificate even though there was no column for such remarks.
DEO forms 3-member inquiry panel
The district education officer (elementary) Baldev Singh has formed a three-member panel comprising Government Senior Secondary School- Sekhewal principal Naresh Kumar; Government Senior Secondary School- Model Town principal Vishwakirat Kahlon and Government Senior Secondary School- Haibowal Kalan principal Kamaljeet Kaur.
Baldev Singh said, “An inquiry has been marked and will be initiated on Monday. Indu Sood was instructed by the department to clear the Gagan’s file on which she had given negative marking.”
The DEO also stated that the department had received another complaint against Indu Sood a month ago, which had been marked to Hardeep Kaur, principal of Miller Ganj and the inquiry of which was pending.
DTF to stage protest
The Democratic Teachers’ Front, a union of government teachers, demanded suspension of the BPEO. “We are going to protest in front of the mini secretariat on July 27,” said DTF district president Daljit Singh.