A serious allegation has come to light against a Zilla Parishad (ZP) school teacher in Khed taluka, Pune district, for engaging in commercial activities, particularly the sale of school uniforms and stationery — a violation of government service conduct rules.
According to a written complaint submitted to the Pune Zilla Parishad, the teacher, a government employee, is running a uniform business under his wife's name. The complaint accuses him of neglecting school duties and aggressively promoting his business by pressuring principals of various schools to purchase uniforms and school materials from him.
Taking cognizance of the complaint, District Education Officer (Primary) Sanjay Naikade has issued a show-cause notice to the teacher. It has also emerged that the teacher’s wife is an educator in a ZP school, raising further questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The state government allocates a significant budget every year for primary education, with nearly 70 percent spent on teachers' salaries. Despite this, instances of ZP teachers engaging in unauthorized side businesses are becoming alarmingly common.
In Pune district’s Zilla Parishad schools, students from Classes 1 to 8 receive free school supplies under a government scheme. These include:
Two sets of uniforms
A pair of shoes
Two pairs of socks
One tiffin bag
One belt
An identity card
However, the complaint reveals that while teachers show high-quality sample fabric from reputed brands, they allegedly use substandard materials in the actual uniforms to increase profit margins.
The Education Department has taken the issue seriously, considering it not only a breach of professional conduct but also a betrayal of public trust. If found guilty, strict departmental action could follow against the accused teacher.
The incident raises larger concerns over monitoring mechanisms in government-run schools and calls for stronger oversight to prevent misuse of schemes meant for underprivileged children.
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