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Punjab teachers refuse to join double duty: Drug Census being imposed on us, already doing Population Census 2027
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LudhianaUpdated: May 25, 2026 09:26 AM IST Teachers in Punjab have been out of schools for months now, and are burdened under several non-academic duties, both by the Centre and state governments. (File Photo)Two Censuses being conducted during the same period — one by the Centre and the other by the state government — brings plenty on Punjab teachers plate at a time when intense heat has gripped the entire region, making door-to-door surveys challenging. The national population census being conducted by the government of India along with the Punjab government’s own “Drug and Socio-Economic Census” has multiplied their problems. Several teachers have alleged that they have been put on “double duty”, meaning their names have appeared in the duty list of both the Censuses.“We are already doing Census 2027 duty for the Government of India, and now the Punjab government is imposing its drug Census also on us. Teachers are being treated like donkeys in such hot weather. We have refused to do both duties and have told the officials that we won’t join the drug census,” a teacher from Ludhiana district said. Teachers in Punjab have been out of schools for months now, and are burdened under several non-academic duties, both by the Centre and state governments. From population Census and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters list under the Election Commission to local body polls being conducted by the Punjab State Election Commission, and now the Drug and Socio-Economic Census, teachers have alleged that they are being “extremely harassed” and not allowed to teach, which is their primary job. Interestingly, for the Punjab government’s Drug and Socio-Economic Census, a first-ever in the state being conducted to “find extent of drug addiction in the state”, earlier the teachers were told to “volunteer” as enumerators and told that they will be paid Rs 250 per household. However, after receiving the lukewarm response and facing the shortage of enumerators, the duties have now been mandatory in some districts. As per the order issued by Ludhiana SDM (east) on Friday, as many as 1,281 teachers from Ludhiana alone were put on duty for drug Census and directed to report for training on Saturday. The order said that if teachers won’t report, action will follow. However, a massive protest erupted on Saturday near SCD College, Ludhiana, where teachers were told to report for training. A majority of the teachers alleged that they were put on “double duty” and they refused to join the drug Census one. “We feel that the national Census 2027 is our duty and we are happily doing it. It is not that tough to ask 30 basic questions. But now the Punjab government is imposing its drug Census on us. It has 120 questions that have to be asked to each family. We are already out of schools due to Census 2027 and SIR, and now this drug Census is being imposed on us. We have refused to join double or triple duties. They can take whatever action they want to take action against us,” another teacher from Ludhiana said.Story continues below this ad “On one hand, the Punjab government says that teachers won’t be burdened with non-academic work and here, we are being given not one but double and triple duties. What was the urgency of the Punjab government to conduct the drug Census in the period when the national Census is already ongoing? And anyway, majority questions in drug Census are related to the AAP government’s own schemes which they want to publicise. Teachers are bearing the brunt of all this,” a teacher from Sangrur district said. A teacher from Ludhiana said that authorities have assured them that “no teacher will be forced to join double duty.” “We have been told by the authorities that those who are already doing Census 2027 duty won’t be forced to join the drug Census. But things will be clear on Monday. If they will still force us, we will again sit in a protest,” Sanjiv Kumar, a teacher said. Divya Goyal is a Principal Correspondent
NewsWorldDouble win for Haryana family: Mother and son elected mayors in UK The family moved to the UK from Haryana in 2013. Tushar’s father, Sunil Dahiya, told PTI that they had no clear plan at the time. 2 min readMay 25, 2026 08:40 AM IST First published on: May 25, 2026 at 08:40 AM IST 23-year-old man of Indian origin and his mother have been elected mayors in the United Kingdom. (Photo: X/@INSIGHTUK2) A 23-year-old man of Indian origin and his mother have been elected mayors in the United Kingdom, in what their family described as a proud moment, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. Tushar Kumar became the youngest Indian-origin mayor in the UK after taking office as Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council on May 13. A week later, his mother Parveen Rani was elected Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council.‘We had not come with any specific plan’ The family moved to the UK from Haryana in 2013. Tushar’s father, Sunil Dahiya, told PTI that they had no clear plan at the time. “We had not come with any specific thing in mind when we moved to the UK in 2013… Tushar was just 10 years then,” he said. He said it was “a matter of great pride” that both mother and son now hold mayoral positions.Story continues below this ad According to PTI, Tushar entered public life early. He was elected a councillor at the age of 20 while studying in London and later served as deputy mayor before taking the top post. His father said Tushar believes that “age should never be a barrier” to joining public or community service. He added that both Tushar and Parveen have been involved in community work, including teaching Hindi free of cost and working with social organisations. The family’s ancestral village is Rohna in Haryana’s Sonipat district, and they had lived in Rohtak before moving abroad.Story continues below this ad “We always stay connected with our roots. We visit our hometown every year,” Dahiya told PTI.He said both Tushar and his mother are committed to community service and public engagement in the UK. The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd # britain Loading Recommendations... 0102030405Live Blog
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