COVID-19 killed over 1600 teachers engaged in UP Panchayat polls in less than 20 days: Teachers’ association

Releasing names of the deceased teachers, the Uttar Pradesh Primary Teachers’ Association has asked UP CM Yogi Adityanath for Rs 1 crore compensation each and jobs for family members of the victims

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NH Political Bureau

In less than 20 days during the Panchayat polls held in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh from April 15 to May 2, over 1600 teachers and supporting staff have died of COVID-19, a teachers’ body has claimed.

Releasing the names of the deceased teachers with their addresses and contact numbers, the Uttar Pradesh Primary Teachers’ Association has demanded Rs 1 crore compensation and jobs for family members of the victims from the state government.

In a letter to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighting “rising anguish among teachers” against the government, the teachers’ body put forth eight demands.

COVID-19 killed over 1600 teachers engaged in UP Panchayat polls in less than 20 days: Teachers’ association

The association said the highest casualties, 68, were reported from Azamgarh district. As per the list issued by the association, 50 teachers have died in Gorakhpur, 47 in Lakhimpur, 53 in Rae Bareli, 43 in Jaunpur, 46 in Prayagraj, 35 in Lucknow, 39 in Sitapur, 34 in Unnao, 36 in Ghazipur and 34 in Barabanki.

In 23 districts of the state, more than 25 teachers and other staff have died due to COVID-19.

It is important to mention here that the teachers’ association had demanded postponement of the Panchayat polls owing to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the UP government paid no heed to it.

The teachers had also announced a boycott of the process of counting of votes but were forced to participate in it after Supreme Court declined a plea to delay the counting. While hearing the petition, the court had asked the state Election Commission if it could delay the counting. It gave the go-ahead after the state Election Commission assured it that COVID-19 protocols would be adhered to at the 829 counting centers in the state.

Highlighting apathy on the part of the BJP government in UP, the teacher's body said that not even a single statement condoling the death of such a large number of teachers and other state government employees had been issued by the government so far.

The five phase Panchayat polls were held in UP between April 15 and May 2 amid the surge in COVID cases.

The first phase of polling took place on April 15, the second phase on April 19, the third phase on April 26 and the fourth on April 29. The results were declared on May 2.

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