Teachers entitled to take leave on the day of MLC election polling: Education Department
Many CBSE and State Board (private unaided) schools are also located outside the city limits, and teachers here also prefer to use the school bus for commuting.
Nagpur: All the teachers whose names are there in the voter list for the MLC elections to be held on 30th January are fully entitled to vote. However, the education department also feels that this power should be exercised judiciously so that students are not left out at all.
Education Officer (Nagpur District) Ravindra Katolkar said, “If the school is located far from the city, perhaps the teacher will have to take leave. But if the school is within city limits, they can easily go, vote, and come back. If teachers take leave, they will have to show proof of voting.”
Many CBSE and State Board (private unaided) schools are also located outside the city limits, and teachers here also prefer to use the school bus for commuting. “Once the school bus reaches the institution, it is not economically feasible for the operator to take the teachers again to the polling stations and back,” said a teacher.
Ashnarayan Tiwari, the senior principal of the school even said so, “The problem is also the location of the polling stations. All the teachers cannot have the same voting booth, Which can lead to other logistical challenges for transporting schoolteachers.”
Even with the enrollment of CBSE teachers as voters
Deepali Dable, President of, the CBSE School Staff Welfare Association (CSSWA) said, “Registered voters have the right to cast their vote and no one can stop them at all. This time all the CBSE schools have participated very enthusiastically in the enrollment of teachers as voters. We are sure that the same enthusiasm will be shown in allowing our teachers to vote on the date of 30th January.”
Deepali has even said that the association has provided solutions to the logistical problems of the schools. “For the schools which are giving holiday, there is no problem. But for those schools that allow half-day leave, It can be given at the beginning of the day or in the second half. Teachers can either vote and then come to school, or vice versa. If needed, teachers can give a written application confirming that they are availing this leave exclusively for voting.” Deepali Dably said. He said that if teachers are not allowed voting then teachers can approach CBSE Schools Staff Welfare Association.
Even with the enrollment of CBSE teachers as voters, there has also been a marked increase in the number of registered voters. However, it also remains to be seen how many people actually go out and cast their votes.
Also Read: State Election Commission says dry day to be observed only on January 30
