6 days ago
Sambhajinagar order draws ire over residence rule for ZP teachers
An order issued by a local education officer in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar—directing that show-cause notices be sent to government school teachers who do not reside in the villages they teach, asking why their House Rent Allowance (HRA) should not be stopped—has once again sparked the debate over whether or not it is important for Zilla Parishad (ZP) school teachers to stay in the same village where they teach.
The issue of Zilla Parishad school teachers not staying in the same villages as their schools has long been a matter of debate. Although such a rule exists, many teachers choose to live in nearby towns or villages, often for the convenience of their families or due to the lack of suitable housing in rural areas. Teachers argue that this rule is impractical and has no bearing on the quality of their teaching or professional commitment.
The latest order issued on July 30 by Arvind Kapse, a local education officer from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, has drawn much criticism from teachers' community who are questioning the practicality of the condition. While several teachers' associations have raised voice against it, member of Legislative Council J. M. Abhyankar has written to the authorities opposing the order.
In his letter dated August 2, to education authorities, MLC Abhyankar from a teachers' constituency stated that the move to stop HRA for non-resident teachers appears to be arbitrary and lacking in proper assessment. He pointed out that employees from other government departments continue to receive HRA regardless of similar commuting arrangements. 'Many teachers commute from nearby areas and still fulfill their academic and extracurricular duties with dedication,' he wrote. 'The belief that only teachers who live in the village are responsible is misleading. Unless there is evidence of negligence, withdrawing HRA is unjustified.'
Whereas demanding withdrawal of the order, Jalinder Sarode, secretary of Shikshak Bharati, said, 'This mandate has caused significant dissatisfaction and anger among teachers. No such compulsion is imposed on other government employees. Villages often lack basic facilities like rental housing. The administration should focus on improving the quality of education, not on where a teacher lives.'
