Female teachers in Uttar Pradesh demand three-day period leave; blames govt school for bad condition of toilets

The Uttar Pradesh Mahila Shikshak Sangh, on Saturday (July 31) started a campaign seeking 'period leave' for three days for women related to the field of education. The president of the Uttar Pradesh Mahila Shikshak Sangh, Sulochana Maurya stated that a three-day period leave should be granted for women teachers keeping the bad conditions of toilets in government schools in Uttar Pradesh.

In an interview with a news agency, Sulochana Maurya said, "We formed this association on February 8 to work for the cause of women teachers who constitute almost 60 per cent of the total strength of teachers in primary schools. The association already has its units in 50 of the 75 districts of the state."

Maurya further expressed that there are women-specific problems in the state which only women can point out and though there is a representation of women, it is almost non-existent and is mostly dominated by men and their thought process.

An official from Barabanki shared that, there is also a lack of freedom of expression when it comes to women-specific issues. Women teachers feel hesitant in sharing their problems which can be important at times to male counterparts who do not take women seriously.

Maurya said that the association has already met with ministers regarding the problem. "A five-member delegation of the association met Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi regarding the issue. He assured that he would discuss the issue with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. We have also met Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Labour Minister Swami Prasad Maurya," said Maurya.

Maurya also pointed out that this sort of leave is provided in the state of Bihar where women are granted a leave of two days during their difficult days but in U.P they want one day extra because the situation demands so.

And while meetings are taking place, this campaign is taking over Twitter with the hashtag '#PeriodLeave'.

Source : DNA India