Fact Check: Old news of Bihar government's controversial order shared as recent
A Hindi newspaper clipping is widely being shared on social media. According to the clipping, the Bihar education department has asked teachers to monitor those who defecate in the open.
By Tejal Sinha Published on 2 Dec 2021 6:14 AM GMT
Hyderabad: A Hindi newspaper clipping is widely being shared on social media. According to the clipping, the Bihar education department has asked teachers to monitor those who defecate in the open.
The caption of one such viral post reads, "Teachers will monitor those who defecate in the open"
Fact Check
The claim is False.
NewsMeter firstly found that in the viral post, a screenshot of the news published in the Hindi newspaper Amar Ujala is visible. However, there is no date mentioned.
The team performed a keyword search, which led us to news published on November 21, 2017, on the website of Amar Ujala.
"A circular has been issued by the BEO to the teachers. Under this, now high school teachers will monitor those who defecate in the open. According to the orders issued by the BEO, teachers will monitor those who defecate in the open in the mornings and evenings. Teachers will observe open defecation daily at 5 am and 4 pm. Teachers have been instructed to take photos of those who defecate in the open," the report reads.
News related to the same was also published Jagran on November 22, 2017. "Bihar: Strange decision of Education Department, teachers will guard 'Lota' in the morning and evening," reads the headline.
"To prevent open defecation in rural areas, teachers have been made members of the ward. It will be the job of teachers to inspect toilets to be built under the cleanliness campaign. They will take stock of its construction work and submit report after physical verification. Directions have also been given to review the works twice a week. Teachers say that they are already overburdened by non-academic work. , They have to prepare voter list and conduct census," reads the report.
Meanwhile, a report by India TV News stated that Shatrughan Prasad Singh, general secretary, Bihar Secondary School Teachers Association said: "This decision is disrespectful to teachers".
It is therefore evident that the claim is False. Bihar government's order asking teachers to monitor those who defecate in the open was issued in 2017.
