Ahmedabad Teachers Strike Over Election Workload

Government primary school teachers in Ahmedabad staged a protest at a data uploading center, citing undue pressure, excessive workload, and harassment. The 246 teachers, serving as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), complained about threats from election officials to meet targets and the distress caused by receiving abusive calls at night due to their publicly shared mobile numbers.

The BLOs highlighted the immense pressure to complete tasks like mapping voters and submitting forms, often without public cooperation. Server issues compounded their work, leading to late-night data entry and a lack of family time over the past three weeks. The teachers also reported long hours, starting at 7 am with fieldwork and continuing availability as needed.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Teachers Association president stated that BLOs require technical and support staff and should not be forced to work outside their designated wards. Authorities have since agreed to address these issues and find solutions. While initial server problems were reported, officials confirmed the system is now functioning correctly.