A bizarre incident recently surfaced in Bihar, sparking widespread discussions and criticism. A male teacher working at a school in the state was reportedly granted maternity leave through a government portal. This news quickly went viral, prompting several questions about the authenticity and nature of the leave granted to him. The issue has left many wondering if such an occurrence is even possible, and whether this points to a significant flaw in the system.
The Incident
The controversy began when it was discovered that a male teacher, identified as Jitendra Kumar Singh, had applied for leave through the “e-Shiksha Kosh” portal, an online platform for managing government teachers’ attendance and leave applications in Bihar. Singh applied for leave from December 1 to December 10, and shockingly, the leave granted was categorized as “Maternity Leave.”
This led to widespread confusion and mockery, especially on social media, with netizens questioning whether male teachers in Bihar were now becoming pregnant and receiving maternity benefits. A screenshot of the portal was shared, showing the teacher’s leave request, which was promptly flagged as an error.
The Response
As the news spread, both the Bihar Education Department and the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) came under fire. Their response to the issue was that the granting of maternity leave to a male teacher was due to a “technical error.” They explained that the e-Shiksha Kosh portal, being a new system, had some glitches, which caused the male teacher’s leave to be categorized incorrectly.
Officials stated that the portal was designed to manage leave applications for teachers, including both attendance and types of leave. However, due to technical faults, the system mistakenly categorized the male teacher’s leave as maternity leave, a benefit typically reserved for female teachers.
A Recurring Problem
This was not the first time such an issue had occurred. Earlier, in the Vaishali district of Bihar, a similar incident had occurred where a male teacher’s medical leave was incorrectly recorded as maternity leave. Despite efforts to rectify the issue, the recurring nature of such errors has raised questions about the reliability and functionality of the e-Shiksha Kosh portal.
The Bihar Education Department have promised to address these technical issues, and they assure that the errors have been identified and corrected. However, the public remains skeptical about how such a significant error could have occurred in the first place.
What Does This Mean for the System?
The controversy highlights the challenges faced by new systems and portals in their initial stages. While technical glitches are not uncommon, the nature of this particular error raises concerns about the quality control measures in place when developing and managing such important public service platforms.
This incident also underscores the need for better training and oversight when implementing new systems for government functions, especially when it involves sensitive matters like employee benefits and leave management.
Conclusion
While the Bihar Education Department has acknowledged the error and promised to rectify it, the incident has sparked a larger debate about the functioning of government portals and the effectiveness of their implementation. Whether this glitch was an isolated case or a symptom of deeper systemic issues, it’s clear that the e-Shiksha Kosh portal requires further refinement.
As citizens, we expect efficiency and accuracy from government services. Hopefully, with proper upgrades and checks, such bizarre incidents will become a thing of the past.
Also Read: Mumbai Boat Accident: Indian Navy Releases Statement on Tragic Incident
Follow US
