The safety of the ‘nation builders’ engaged in the country’s most critical and massive undertaking—the Census—now appears to be left entirely to fate. A recent incident involving a teacher from the Government Primary School, Kuliewal, has come to light; during the house-listing phase, a government teacher on duty was not only publicly mistreated but also had his official register snatched away after being subjected to death threats. Following this incident, an atmosphere of deep fear and panic has gripped the employees engaged in census work, particularly the female teachers. The victimized teacher has issued a clear warning to the administration: he will not return to duty until strict legal action is taken against the accused.
**Accused’s Father Stood by as a Silent Spectator**
According to reports, the victimized teacher, Narinder Singh, was conducting house-listing work in Cheema Colony. He began his work at one end of the street, and while assigning numbers, he arrived in front of a specific residence—a gated plot featuring a built-in shed. Acting as a responsible public servant, Narinder Singh peered inside the shed to verify whether it contained a room or if anyone was residing there. The mere act of looking inside by Teacher Narinder Singh deeply offended the homeowner’s son. Flying into a rage, the son first began publicly verbally abusing the government teacher and then forcibly snatched the official census register from his hands. Shockingly, while this entire altercation was unfolding, the accused’s father stood at the gate, remaining a silent spectator throughout the ordeal. Expressing his outrage, the victimized teacher stated that, given the current climate, his life is under direct threat. He warned that if the administration fails to take immediate action, the safety of any employee working in the field cannot be guaranteed.
**Cooperate with Employees Conducting the Census**
It is pertinent to note that the administration has been continuously receiving complaints regarding rude and uncooperative behavior from the general public toward employees performing census duties in the field. In this context, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) General Poonam Singh held a high-level meeting with senior officials on Wednesday, during which strict directives were issued to immediately resolve the difficulties being faced by the employees. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the Assistant Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation was compelled to fold his hands and appeal to the public to cooperate with the employees conducting the census and to refrain from mistreating them, emphasizing that these employees are, after all, an integral part of society and our own families. However, despite these administrative assurances and appeals, the reality on the ground remains unchanged—a situation that has now sparked a fresh controversy and ignited outrage among the employees.
