Students face ‘heat’ in AP Survey

Govt’s promise of burdening teachers and students goes for a toss

IT Minister Nara Lokesh had repeatedly said the coalition government would avoid burdening students and teachers with surveys and non-academic work, unlike previous governments accused of diverting educational institutions for administrative duties

1. Summer holidays gone for a toss
2. Students are being asked to visit households between 10 a.m. and 4 p. m.
3. On some days, temperature exceeds 45 degrees Celsius
5. A student from Andhra Loyola College said participation was communicated as an institutional responsibility during the vacation period

kiranmai tutika I AMARAVATI

On the one hand,  the AP Government issues heat advisory but also decides to send college students in scorching sunshine on survey duty. The Government has come under severe criticism for deploying college students in a large-scale family survey exercise being conducted across the state alongside the ongoing population enumeration process, despite extreme summer temperatures and earlier assurances that students would not be burdened with non-academic government work.

The survey, aimed at collecting detailed household-level socio-economic and demographic information, is being carried out in parallel with the state’s population data collection exercise. According to officials, the family survey is intended to create a comprehensive database of households, welfare beneficiaries, employment status, educational background, income levels, and living conditions. The data is expected to be used for future welfare planning, beneficiary identification, and policy implementation by various departments.

As part of the exercise, college students in several districts have reportedly been assigned door-to-door survey duties during their summer holidays. Students are being asked to visit households between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to collect and upload information, even as large parts of Andhra Pradesh continue to experience scorching temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius.

The move has triggered sharp reactions because the same government has repeatedly issued public advisories urging citizens to remain indoors during peak afternoon hours to avoid heatstroke, dehydration, and sunstroke-related illnesses.

Critics have also pointed to earlier statements made by Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, who had on multiple occasions said the coalition government would avoid using students and teachers for overburdening survey work and non-academic assignments. Those remarks were made in the context of criticism against previous governments for allegedly diverting educational institutions toward administrative work.

However, students from various colleges now claim they are being mobilised for the family survey under instructions from educational institutions and local authorities. A student from Andhra Loyola College said participation was communicated as an institutional responsibility during the vacation period.

“We were informed by our college authorities that we have to participate in the family survey work. We are going to different localities during afternoon hours when the heat is extremely harsh. Some students are feeling exhausted after working for several hours outdoors, but many are attending because they fear facing issues with attendance or internal assessment if they refuse,” the student said on condition of anonymity.

According to sources, the survey involves collecting extensive household information, including family size, income sources, housing details, education levels, occupation, and welfare scheme coverage. In some areas, students are also reportedly helping local officials digitise data through mobile applications and online portals.

Student groups and opposition voices have questioned why the government chose to conduct such an extensive field-level exercise during peak summer rather than postponing it until weather conditions improve.

The public argues that while governments routinely rely on field surveys for welfare planning and population data collection, involving students in physically demanding outdoor assignments during a severe heat wave sends a contradictory message at a time when authorities themselves are advising the public to avoid outdoor movement during daytime hours.

CM conducts emergency meeting on heat wave

With Andhra Pradesh reeling under severe heat wave conditions and soaring temperatures, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday conducted an emergency review meeting on public health and safety preparedness across the state. In several districts have crossed 45 degrees Celsius, with some areas recording nearly 48 degrees due to the intensified El Nino effect.

The Chief Minister specifically advised senior citizens, pregnant women, children, and people suffering from illnesses to avoid stepping outdoors between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. He stressed that protecting human life remains the government’s top priority during the ongoing heat wave.

District Collectors were directed to conduct media briefings and intensify awareness campaigns through television, print, and social media platforms on precautions against heatstroke and dehydration.