At least 51 teachers dead after contracting COVID-19 in BJP-ruled MP, say teachers’ bodies

At least 51 teachers have died after contracting Covid-19 in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh in the last 15 days, teachers’ bodies Madhya Pradesh Teachers Congress and Madhya Pradesh Government Teachers Association, said on Tuesday.

Issuing a list of the deceased teachers with their addresses, the teachers’ bodies claimed that 28 teachers have died in Chhindwara district, the worst-affected district in the so-called second wave of Coronavirus.

As per the teachers’ bodies, 14 teachers have died in Dhar district, six in Betul and around 10 have lost their lives in Siwani district during the last two weeks.

The associations have urged the state government not to reopen schools and allow teachers to work from home or avail leave until the situation improves.

Talking to National Herald, a teacher from Siwani complained about mismanagement in the state Education department and callousness of the BJP government with respect to Coronavirus.

“In most parts of the state there is no restriction or lockdown. Only ‘Corona curfew’ has been enforced in some parts. Nothing has been done to improve health infrastructure in the last one year. In the government hospital at Rewa, there is only one ICU. In Damoh, people are dying due to lack of oxygen support but a campaign for the by-election is going on there. Why can't it be postponed?” asked an angry teacher over the phone.

MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said two days ago said that no lockdown will be imposed in MP. Only ‘corona curfew’ has been enforced in some parts of the state with ‘people’s support’, he said while talking to reporters in Bhopal.

Chouhan said that lockdown is not a solution to the COVID-19 crisis and economic activities should continue to allow people to sustain their livelihood.

“There is no lockdown in Madhya Pradesh. Nor will it be imposed state-wide. The (district) crisis management groups in some places, after talking to people, to break the chain of the virus, imposed self-restrictions like remaining indoors,” he said.

Many people feel that sooner or later the government will have to impose a complete lockdown as there is a steep surge in cases the rural areas and health infrastructure in the whole state is in an abysmal condition.

Meanwhile, former MP CM and senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh attacked state Health Minister Narottam Mishra for being busy campaigning in Damoh by-election.

Digvijay Singh alleged that oxygen cylinders were being sold at inflated prices. He appealed to the administration to stop the ‘loot’.