Teachers across the State of Maharashtra are up in arms agains the Government of Maharashtra. No, this time it is not for pay or facilities. They are strongly protesting against the Government order that teachers of all private schools and colleges have to compulsorily do Census duty in capacity of enumerators for the Maharashtra Census 2011.

The academic community of Maharashtra are naturally angry, as Census duty means going door-to-door to cover each and every house in the location of the school/college where he/she teaches. The main fact is that the academic term has not ended. It was extended due to the earlier teachers’ strike and thus extends to mid-May. Since the Maharashtra Census Dates 2011 fall within the same time-frame, the teachers cannot actually be expected to dump their academic duties, including correction of exam papers, to do Census duty. C A Sadashivan, President of Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (MFUCTO), has warned the Government that it will approach the Courts of Law to appeal against the Governnment decree of census duty for teachers.