09 July,2026 03:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Anushree Gaikwad
The protest began at 11 am at Azad Maidan on July 9. Pic/ Special Arrangement
Teachers across Maharashtra are set to stage a statewide protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Thursday, July 9, raising concerns over the growing burden of non-academic duties, job insecurity and what they describe as increasing administrative pressure on educators.
The agitation, backed by various teachers' groups, is expected to draw participation from educators across the state. Organisers say the movement aims to protect schools, ensure uninterrupted education for students and safeguard teachers' rights and job security.
Sanjay Shinde, a Marathi teacher at Utkarsh Mandir School in Malad with over 20 years of teaching experience, expressed concern over the additional responsibilities assigned to teachers as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Sanjay Shinde (extreme left) protesting with his fellow teachers. (Pic/ Special Arrangement)
Speaking to mid-day.com, Shinde said teachers are already handling multiple government-assigned duties, including election and census-related work, and that the SIR exercise has added to their workload without any additional compensation.
"I am a teacher. How is it fair to ask teachers to carry out Special Intensive Revision work and booth-level officer duties in addition to our regular responsibilities? We already perform election and census work. Now, SIR and BLO duties have been added while we are expected to continue our work in schools as usual," he said.
Shinde, whose school shift runs from 12 pm to 6 pm, said teachers are expected to carry out SIR-related fieldwork before reporting to school.
"I start my shift at noon, so we are expected to complete SIR and BLO work before school hours. This exercise is expected to continue for nearly a month. It takes a toll on our mental health and leaves us exhausted," he said.
He also raised concerns about the lack of remuneration for the additional work.
"The government does not pay us for this extra duty. We are being burdened with additional responsibilities without any compensation," he added.
Highlighting safety concerns, Shinde said many teachers, especially women, are required to visit households as part of the verification process.
"We have many female teachers, and it is not always safe for them to go door-to-door for verification work. In several cases, residents do not cooperate. Some even get angry, believing we are questioning their eligibility as voters," he said.
According to Shinde, citizens often express frustration over the requirement to furnish documents.
"People ask us how they are expected to prove they have been voting for the last 20 years. They feel the government should already have these records. As field workers, we are left facing public anger and answering questions we cannot resolve," he said.
Shinde also questioned the impact of the exercise on students and academic schedules.
"What about the students? Who will teach them and ensure their syllabus is completed? This is the first time we have been asked to undertake SIR work on such a scale. Political battles are affecting teachers more than the political parties themselves," he said.
Calling for alternatives, he urged the government to adopt technology-driven solutions.
"Instead of burdening teachers with unpaid work, the government should create an online system, develop a dedicated app, or employ unemployed youth for such assignments. A digital process would be more efficient and less disruptive for teachers and students alike," he said.
The protest comes amid an ongoing legal challenge by the B.L.O. Duty Injustice Redressal Forum, which has filed a petition before the High Court regarding the deployment of teachers as Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
The forum, operating under the slogan "Let Us Teach", has sought judicial intervention against the requisitioning of employees from private aided and unaided schools for electoral work.
Among its key demands are:
Organisers have urged teachers to set aside organisational differences and participate in the agitation collectively.
The appeal argues that remaining silent in the face of mounting pressure could worsen conditions for educators in the future. Teachers have also been encouraged not to be deterred by fears of salary deductions or disciplinary action, with organisers claiming that a united movement would be difficult for authorities to ignore.
The protest began at 11 am at Azad Maidan on July 9.
