Jodhpur- The Rajasthan education department has recently found itself at the center of controversy, primarily due to its frequent policy reversals. Over the past seven months, the department has backtracked on several major decisions, drawing widespread criticism of its functioning and the leadership of Education Minister Madan Dilawar. In response, teachers’ unions have launched a poster campaign against the minister, demanding that his department be reassigned.

Education minister Madan Dilawar has found himself under fire, facing a wave of criticism from teachers and earning the mocking title 'Paltooram'—a term used to describe someone who constantly changes their stance.

This backlash stems from the minister’s frequent policy reversals, with seven major decisions being rolled back in just seven months, leading to growing discontent in the education sector.

Posters Targeting the Minister Emerge in Jodhpur

In a bold move, posters criticizing Minister Dilawar have been put up across prominent locations and billboards in Jodhpur. These posters, some even mockingly labeling him as ‘Paltooram’ (a derogatory term for someone who constantly flip-flops), call on Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to reassign Dilawar to another department.

Leading the charge is the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj and Secondary Teachers' Union, whose state convener, Shambhu Singh Medtiya, has voiced concerns over the minister's erratic decision-making. Medtiya warned that if Dilawar is not reassigned soon, it could severely damage the state’s education system.

Medtiya emphasized that the entire education department, from employees to officials, is in a state of confusion due to the frequent changes in policy. In preparation for Chief Minister Sharma’s visit to Jodhpur, the union strategically placed posters throughout the city, hoping to capture the CM’s attention and prompt him to evaluate the minister’s performance. They urged Sharma to conduct a thorough review of the numerous orders that Dilawar has both issued and retracted during his tenure.

According to the union, many of the department’s current decisions are still based on directives from the previous government. The union also highlighted serious administrative shortcomings, such as the pending promotions of hundreds of teachers and the concerning fact that 3,700 teachers currently have no assignments. This, they argued, is jeopardizing the future of the state's students.

The protest is not confined to Jodhpur. The teachers’ union has announced plans to extend the poster campaign to Jaipur, targeting areas like the Chief Minister’s residence, the Education Complex, and other strategic locations. The union has given the government six months to address their demands. Should the government fail to reassign the minister, the union has threatened to take to the streets, with plans to escalate the protest to the national level, potentially reaching Delhi.

Seven Key Policy Reversals Under Scrutiny

1. Transfer Policy: The first significant reversal came shortly after the BJP-led government took power. The revised teacher transfer policy, which was part of a 100-day action plan, was abruptly scrapped.

2. Switch from English to Hindi: Minister Dilawar had announced a plan to convert Mahatma Gandhi Schools from English to Hindi medium, commissioning a detailed survey across 38 parameters. However, this decision was also reversed.

3. Mobile Phone Ban: On May 4, the education department banned the use of mobile phones by teachers in government schools. This ban was lifted a month later with certain conditions attached.

4. Panchayati Raj Teachers’ Set-Up Change (6(3)): On May 17, the department initiated a restructuring of Panchayati Raj teachers under Rule 6(3), but the plan was withdrawn within days.

5. Admission Age: Ahead of the annual school enrollment drive, the department implemented a policy that only children aged six and above could be admitted, citing the New Education Policy. However, after pushback from teachers and a drop in enrollment figures, the decision was amended to allow five-year-olds from Anganwadi centers to be enrolled as well.

6. Milk Scheme Suspension: Earlier this month, the minister suspended the "Bal Gopal" milk distribution scheme in schools due to logistical issues, proposing millet-based meals instead. However, the milk scheme was quickly reinstated after backlash.

7. Teacher Adjustment: The department had planned to begin the adjustment of 67,000 surplus teachers across government schools starting on September 18. This directive, too, was eventually retracted.