Patna: An education department directive asking government schoolteachers in Muzaffarpur and Aurangabad to check open defecation in their areas has not gone down well with the teachers.

The education department in the districts asked teachers to visit areas adjoining their schools in the mornings and evenings to create awareness about sanitation.

"We are facing resistance in implementing the government drive, as people feel it interferes in personal matters," said a government middle school teacher at Bhaironpur panchayat in Aurangabad district, around 150km south of Patna. "A few days back, we visited Kharkani panchayat. Residents told us not to visit their homes in the mornings when their women go out to relieve themselves." He said the task is more difficult for women teachers. The order also requires teachers to send a report and photographs over WhatsApp to senior officials.

The Aurangabad district magistrate's directive asks teachers to create awareness about health hazards from open defecation. Also, the help and cooperation of teachers in Deo block has been sought to make the block open defecation-free (ODF) by December.

"The directive will affect academic activities," Bihar Secondary School Teachers Association spokesperson Abhishek Kumar said. "Teachers have to complete the syllabus for matriculation and Intermediate exams scheduled in February. They are already burdened with different kinds of non-academic work. Now that they have to work on making villages ODF, studies will be hit further."

But minister of state for rural development Ram Kripal Yadav said the directive will not hit academic activities in schools. "People look up to village teachers. If they try to create awareness about ODF, people from poor sections will understand the importance."

Bihar lags far behind on the open defecation-free front. Against the national average of 72 per cent ODF areas, Bihar's figure is just 34 per cent.