The Chhattisgarh government has decided not to involve school teachers in extra duties other than teaching.

The decision comes as a response to the education department's proposal to free about 160,000 government school teachers from additional burdens such as health campaigns, census surveys, relief work during calamities and preparation of voters' lists. Assignments other than teaching, disrupt the flow of education and teachers find it difficult to complete syllabuses in time, said the department.

According to the decision, all such non-teaching activities will now be performed by the adult education department, health workers and anganwadi workers. "This is the first time a state in India has taken such a decision to standardize children's education,' says education minister Ajay Chandrakar. Teachers doubt if the government will be able to implement the plan. As of now, they are busy making voters' lists.