Give Rs 1 crore, job to kin of teachers who died of COVID during UP panchayat polls: Teachers’ association

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh has demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore each and government jobs to the dependents of the teachers who died of COVID during the panchayat polls recently held in the state, and will hold a protest on May 30.

The spokesman of the association, Dr R P Mishra, said that the families of the teachers, who have lost the bread winner due to COVID, are passing through a huge crisis. “We demand that the government should not only pay Rs 1 crore compensation but also give jobs to one of the family members by relaxing rules,” he said.

On May 30, the office bearers of the association will hold a virtual meeting in all the districts of the state from 11:00 am onwards and will observe a fast in the memory of those who died due to COVID which they contracted during the panchayat polls.

The teachers’ association has said that around 1621 government employees, including teachers, have died of COVID while performing poll duty.

Mishra said that as per the directions of the State Election Commission, if a teacher died while going to or coming from a voting venue during the elections, his family would be given compensation.

Mishra said that by not considering the demand of the association to pay compensation to the dependents of the family under special circumstances, the Yogi government has shown its insensitivity towards people of the state.

He said that letters have been sent to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma requesting them that the families of teachers who have died of COVID during the polls should be given a compensation of Rs 1 crore, besides one member of their family getting a government job and benefits under the old pension scheme.

“If a teacher who has died is 60 years old, he should be given gratuity and the amount spent on his treatment for COVID. A list of 1621 teachers who died because of the infection had been sent to the state government. The Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh has also prepared a list of 500 teachers which will be sent to the government soon,” Mishra said.