Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, October 3
Already racing against time to complete their syllabus, which is lagging behind schedule due to Covid-induced lockdown, teachers and students have another task at hand.
They have been directed by the Sangrur authorities to collect 1,000 kg disposal (plastic) this month from the district under the “Clean India Programme” of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Teachers have been told to file action-taken report mentioning the date, name of block, quantity of waste collected and special comment.
Teachers claim they have already banned the use of plastic bags in schools and launched special campaigns against plastic at their own level, it would be a tough task for them to look for such kind of waste now.
“Almost all schools are using steel utensils for mid-day meals, while students have strictly been told not to use any plastic item. When no plastic is being used, from where will we collect such huge quantity of disposal?” said a primary school teacher on the condition of anonymity.
“Teachers and students are already under pressure as Covid has badly affected studies. But the recent order to collect 1,000 kg disposal from Sangrur district is surprising,” said Balbir Longowal, Sangrur president of Democratic Teachers Front.
District Education Officer (Elementary) Dharmpal Singla said it was a voluntary exercise, not mandatory. “The administration has set a target of collecting 1,000 kg disposal from the district. Teachers and students can collect the waste from anywhere, including their houses. Its main purpose is to clean our surroundings and teachers and students should take it positively,” he added.
Told to collect 1,000 kg plastic, teachers fume
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