Madhya Pradesh teachers paddle river tubes to meet e-attendance deadline
During monsoon floods, teachers in Bhind district use inflatable tubes to cross the swollen Baisali river so they can log into a mandatory e-attendance system.
Monsoon flooding has swollen the Baisali river in Bhind district, leaving no bridge and turning the waterway into a dangerous torrent. Six male teachers from government schools in the villages of Nadrauli and Sumer Singh Ka Pura now navigate the river on inflated tyre tubes to log into a compulsory e-attendance application that has been in force since January. Late arrival triggers automatic pay cuts, prompting the teachers to endure the risky crossing rather than face salary loss.
Although the teachers reach the schools, a number of the roughly 100 pupils are unable to attend classes during the floods. District education officials acknowledge the issue was not flagged earlier and have formed a committee to explore technical adjustments and infrastructure improvements, such as building a bridge or allowing exemptions during extreme weather.
Why it matters
It shows how digital attendance rules can endanger teachers when infrastructure cannot cope with seasonal floods.
In this story
