The growing resentment among government school teachers over being assigned non-academic duties has now reached a flashpoint.The latest provocation is the Drug and Socio-economic Census for which district education officers and block education development officers are being asked to enrol over 15,000 teachers as enumerators.While this is being described as “voluntary duty,” the teachers say the door to door survey is being imposed on them as the government wants to accumulate social data on drug addiction in Punjab.Already in Ferozepur, teachers, under the employee’s union banner have refused to opt for these non-academic duties.But it seems this Census duty is only the tip of the iceberg. Around 18,000 teachers are also expected to be deputed as BLOs (Block Level Officers) for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the updated electoral rolls, likely to start in the next few months.This is a cause for worry. For near 25.53 lakh students enrolled in 19,000 government schools in the state, there are about 1.25 lakh teachers. This includes those deputed for administrative duties at state headquarters and at the district level. Worst are the single teacher schools. Then there are schools with poor student-teacher ratio, a ration which falls when educators are deputed on election duties.For over a year, Government school teachers in Punjab have been protesting against the AAP government about being overburdened with non-academic work and unresolved service issues. The situation isn’t about just one issue—several grievances that have built up.Last year, 2025, was a year of polls in Punjab — bypolls, Zila Parishad/Panchyat polls and Municipal Corporation polls being conducted throughout the year.“This is not a one-off issue, but part of a pattern. First, teachers across Punjab government schools were assigned Election duties (BLO work), then exam duties, government scheme work and administrative tasks. Now, this social drug survey, which requires two ETT, Two Senior Secondary and Two middle schools teachers from each block to register voluntary. The District Education Officers are sending message daily to teachers, forcing them to register. Teachers are under pressure,” said Ashwani Awasthi, a government school teacher at Government Senior Secondary Smart School Bhagtanwala, Amritsar.Education Minister Harjot Bains, while launching the much hyped Sikhiya Kranti initiative had also announced that teachers will not be assigned any non-academic duties.“The teachers on drug social survey are being offered Rs 12,000 as incentive. With this kind of money, the government can hire contract employees or create temporary jobs for educated unemployed youth,” said Vikramdev Singh, the state president of democratic teachers Front, a state body of government school teachers.District Education Officer, Secondary, Amritsar, Rajesh Sharma, said that the Department will launch Mission Samarth and English Edge workshops in coming weeks, adding to the academic workload. “Each district education Officer has been told to get teachers register for Drug Social Survey, a minimum number has to ensured. Simultaneously,  regular academic workshops and programs will also continue with no disruption. April is going to be a very busy month for all,” he said.