Pvt schoolteachers from Haryana visit Rajasthan for free Covid test

Tribune News Service

Rewari, October 11

Teachers of private schools in Rewari and Mahendragarh districts have found a way to evade the fee slapped by the health authorities for Covid test for non-medical reasons.

They are getting the test done from various healthcare institutions in the neighbouring Alwar district of Rajasthan, where the test is conducted free of cost.

Sources say the teachers working in Rewari are approaching the health centre in Bhiwadi, while those of Mahendragarh are visiting Behror for Covid test. On getting a negative report, they are submitting it to their school concerned for rejoining.

Covid test is mandatory for teachers to check the spread of pandemic but the Haryana Government has fixed Rs 1,600 for RT-PCR and Rs 650 for rapid antigen test for Covid for those who wish to get themselves tested for non-medical reasons.

“I went to Civil Hospital, Narnaul, to get my Covid test done before rejoining the school but the official on duty asked me to deposit Rs 1,600 for RT-PCR test, referring to the government order. I was not aware of the orders and came back. Later, a teacher who got him tested in Behror free of cost suggested me to go there,” said a private school teacher in Mahendragarh.

He said the next day he got himself tested in Behror for free. “I tested negative and joined the school by showing it to the principal. Many other teachers are also following the suit,” he added.

Another teacher from Rewari said they cannot pay the hefty fee for the test hence many teachers got themselves tested from Bhiwadi, while several others got their test done while standing in the queue of suspected patients of Covid.

“It is unfortunate that Haryana teachers have to go to other states to get themselves tested for free. The government must withdraw the order of charging fee,” said Anil Kaushik, chief, Progressive Private Schools Association, Haryana.

Dr Adarsh Aggarwal, Covid in charge at Government Hospital in Behror, said: “We do Covid tests for free. People from surrounding areas are coming to the hospital for the test.”