APPTA seeks exemption from poll duties for teachers with chronic illnesses

Request

The Andhra Pradesh Primary Teachers Association has asked the state government to waive election duties for teachers and staff suffering from chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis during the current local body polls. State president K. Prakash Rao and general secretary M. G. Mehadi handed written representations to the State Election Commissioner, the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary of the General Administration Department, citing humanitarian grounds. The leaders said many teachers and government employees experience severe joint pain, swelling and limited mobility because of arthritis and other long‑term conditions. Election duties often require standing for long hours and moving across polling stations, which they argue could worsen pain and trigger serious medical complications. They urged the authorities to consider these health risks and grant exemptions to avoid endangering the affected staff.

Context

In Andhra Pradesh, teachers are routinely assigned as poll staff during local elections, a practice meant to supplement the workforce but which can be physically demanding. Exemptions on medical grounds are normally considered when a worker’s condition could be aggravated by the tasks involved.