By Sujata Jena

Bhubaneswar, May 7, 2020: Teachers unions in Odisha have urged the government to ensure basic care and safety of their people who have joined the fight against the Covid-19 in the eastern Indian state.

The Odisha government, through district collectors, has asked teachers to work at interstate check points and quarantine centers, trace those coming from outside and collect blood samples. These are not part of the original job responsibilities of teachers, says a letter the All Utkal Certificate Training Primary Teachers’ Union wrote to the state chief minister.

The teachers demand that they too are given protective medical equipment and insurance coverage as provided to healthcare workers.

The teachers, regardless of their health condition, age, gender, are on the forefront of the battle against Covid-19, the letter points out.

The letter drew attention to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s April 21 announcement that all healthcare workers, including doctors, who will die while fighting Covid-19, will be given “martyrs” status and state funeral.

The deceased family will continue to get full salary until the person’s retirement age. The chief minister also promised family 5 million rupees as compensation.

However, the government “has completely washed its hands off” when it comes to the teachers fighting Covid the letter alleges.

The Odisha has not ensured the basic care and security of those teachers who have become frontline warriors against the catastrophic pandemic.

AUCPTU president Pradeep Kumar Sahoo says they want the government to provide protective medical equipment immediately and ensure insurance facility if any harm occurred to the teachers while discharging their duties.

For this, he also suggests that the government make a policy to ensure financial help to the family members of the teachers just like it has for the health workers of Odisha.

Manoj Kumar Swain, AUCPTU secretary general, says the teachers joined the battle against Covid-18 from March 13.

“We are at the best of our duty, distributing rice coupons to the families of the children, providing money to the boarders in the hostel, delivering books for each student. Our life is at risk as we move door to door without protective medical equipment daily.” Swain added.

Devaraj Jena, AUCPTU vice president of and convener of United Teachers Union in Ganapati district, points out that the teachers work at all emergency and important events such as election, census, natural calamities.

“We are ready to discharge the duty during this exigency period. However, the government must consider the situation of those teachers who are women with a special condition, physically challenged, the old, sickly those with a high risk of getting the virus infected.,” Jena added.

Some district administrations have enlisted teachers for door-to-door health check-ups, but without providing them safety measures.

Jena also said the Orissa government praises health workers, police departments and media persons and promises them special insurance.

They want to bring the attention of both State and Central Government the letter says.
On May 5, thewire.com published hailed the Odisha Government as an underrated leader in Covid-19 management.

“Odisha’s Covid-19 management strategy could offer insights into effective pandemic management,” the news portal noted.

Human Rights activist, Father Ajay Singh agreed to the report and noted that the state has focused on the issue with limited resources and infrastructure. It has strengthened the Panchayati Raj Institution to handle the migrants returning, the priest told Matters India.

Father Augustine Singh, the director of the archdiocesan counseling center, says Odisha is ahead of other states in information sharing and decision to use masks, maintain distance, imposing lockdown that flatten the curve of Covid-19 in the state.

However, few are aware of the plight of the teachers who are watching day and night in over 7276 temporary medical camps, and in over 10,000 quarantine centers of the states’ 6798-gram panchayats, at the inter district-state check post without any protective measures.

As on May 7, Odisha recorded 219 coronavirus positive cases with two deaths.