Teachers in Amritsar have raised concerns over what they describe as growing “Census fatigue,” protesting against repeated government survey, census, election, and administrative assignments that they say are affecting their primary responsibility of teaching students.
The protest, organized by local teacher unions and education staff associations, was held in Amritsar this week. Participants argued that continuous deployment for non-teaching duties has increased workload pressures, disrupted classroom schedules, and negatively impacted learning outcomes. Teacher representatives submitted memorandums to education authorities and the Punjab government, urging officials to limit non-academic assignments and ensure that teaching remains the primary focus of educators.
Union leaders said teachers are regularly assigned duties related to surveys, elections, data collection exercises, and administrative campaigns, often requiring significant time away from classrooms. School administrators acknowledged the challenges but noted that many of these assignments are mandated by government agencies. Education department officials stated that they are reviewing concerns and seeking ways to balance administrative requirements with educational responsibilities.
The issue gained additional attention after a purported online recruitment advertisement claiming individuals could earn Rs 62,500 through census or survey-related work went viral on social media platforms. The advertisement was widely shared through messaging apps and online groups, leading to confusion among job seekers and the general public.
Government authorities later clarified that the recruitment notice was fake and urged citizens not to share personal information or make payments through unauthorized websites. Public advisories were issued warning people against online scams and misinformation.
Teachers and parents said the misleading advertisement further fueled public discussion about census-related activities and government data collection work. Education experts noted that teachers have historically assisted in elections, census operations, and public welfare surveys in India, but emphasized the importance of preventing excessive administrative burdens that interfere with classroom teaching.
Digital security specialists also highlighted the growing challenge of viral misinformation, urging stronger public awareness efforts and verification mechanisms. Authorities said they are investigating the origin of the fake advertisement while continuing discussions with teacher organizations regarding workload concerns.
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