Security concerns: Teachers refuse to participate in polio drive

DI KHAN:

Refusing to participate in the polio drive in DI Khan, women teachers demonstrated at GPO Chowk on Tuesday and blocked traffic.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters chanted slogans against the district education officer (DEO) and demanded the reinstatement of 15 female teachers suspended by the officer last week. The teachers were suspended for refusing to participate in the polio campaigns across the district.

In Tuesday’s protest, the demonstrators demanded the retraction of the suspension orders as well as no more polio duties for teachers because of security concerns.

Earlier, the government had directed women teachers from different schools to participate in the campaign, but they resorted to protests.

In the past polio workers and policemen providing security to them have been targeted in the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2014.