Teachers have become backbone of the government during COVID pandemic, Doing multitasking despite risk to their lives; Not rewarded ever for their selfless contribution 

Teachers have become backbone of the government during COVID pandemic, Doing multitasking despite risk to their lives; Not rewarded ever for their selfless contribution

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH: Teachers are the builders of the nation and everybody has heard this many times, but rather than accepting their contribution towards the nation building in various forms, political and executive platforms never rewarded them by any means, still teachers have been doing their selfless contribution towards the nation.

In addition of their routine school duties, teachers have been doing various jobs assigned by the government during the ongoing COVID pandemic and with their dedication in performing every assigned job, they have become backbone of the government despite facing risk to their lives due to the ongoing COVID crisis. The contribution of teachers towards various government jobs in addition of their assigned duties has unfortunately not been recognized by the civil society what to talk of various government platforms. Whenever government needs manpower for any official purpose, only teaching community comes forward and  teachers perform every job with dedication. Have we forgotten the contribution of teachers of entire J&K in playing their role for the smooth and peaceful conduct of assembly elections when militancy was at its peak? Aadhar card duties, Domicile certificate duties, Census duties and wherever teachers were directed by the government even during odd hours, they did their job up to the entire satisfaction of the government. From the last one year, country has been facing COVID crisis and the same teaching community is on forefront in fulfilling challenging task of providing dry rice to the door steps of the students. Even books for students are being delivered at their doorsteps. Helping the government in various capacities, teachers are seen deployed in COVID centers, involved in sampling purposes, working as Vaccination officers, doing door to door survey and are a part of various COVID awareness teams. Teachers earlier also deployed for doing various surveys of Union and J&K governments, even played a gigantic role in conducting various elections. In ensuring presence of children’s in far flung schools, teachers have done a lot. Even some teachers are seen cooking meals for students during school hours. Despite playing their multiple roles for the nation, this community members never rewarded for the dedication towards their duties. Lower rung officials of various departments get govt quarters, but teaching community never provided with this facility. Why? Majority of teachers visit far flung areas for their duties but find no accommodation and as a result, they waste their precious time in journey only. Why successive governments failed to build accommodation for teachers in schools of far flung areas? A prominent Teacher, pleading anonymity,  while talking to “POONCH TODAY” newspaper, said, “A person becomes Teacher through hard work and by qualifying various exams, but we feel humiliation when few accidental leaders and those who failed in life on every front and have unfortunately joined the fourth estate without knowing it’s a,b,c now  are targeting us. Such people have doubtful credentials and were involved in various anti social and anti national acts and it is surprised to see them projecting themselves as an intellectual which is very ill-fated. In fact, it’s a mockery with the word ‘Intellect’.” Another Teacher, said, “Teachers are the builders of the nation and they are doing their job with full dedication without expecting anything in return. We are not like those who always work for self interest and hollow fame. We are satisfied with what we are doing for the nation.” Another teacher, who is on the verge of retirement, wishing anonymity, said, “During the ongoing pandemic, teachers have been doing multiple jobs including online classes  for students and community teaching in various areas.  Are we not real Corona warriors?  We are doing multitasking despite risk to our lives.  In spite of  doing selfless service to the nation, it is hurting us when you see persons with wrong credentials question the integrity of teachers with their intentional rhetoric.” Many teachers expressed similar feeling with “POONCH TODAY” newspaper and said that they will continue to play their active role for the nation as it doesn’t matter what they receive in return.