Over the past year, a Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher posted in mountainous Nagaland has had to deal with snakes entering his home, missed his father-in-law’s funeral and decided against another visit after his little niece passed away.

The 35-year-old teacher, a native of a small town in Uttar Pradesh who wished not to be named, fears his situation won’t change when he becomes eligible for transfer this year.

Similar is the lot of many other Kendriya Vidyalaya teachers, especially those posted in remote locations because the central government-run Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has put on hold transfers for the past two years.

Although the KVS has cited the pandemic and consequent logistical hurdles to keep transfers in abeyance, the decision has affected the morale of teachers who are worried about their near and dear ones back home amid unprecedented health exigencies. The teachers are also concerned about their own health.

Although classes have been mostly online due to the pandemic, the KVS has directed its teachers to remained stationed in their job locations.

“This area is infested with snakes. Only two days ago, a snake entered my home. I had to remove it myself. This is so risky,” the teacher in Nagaland told The Telegraph over phone.

He will complete three years at his current location and will be eligible to apply for transfer in March-April next year. There is, however, no word yet on whether the KVS will resume transfers anytime soon.

According to the KVS’s transfer policy, a teacher completing three years of service in a “hard station”, schools located in hilly areas, is eligible for transfer subject to vacancies in schools in preferred destinations.

Teachers posted in the plains can apply for transfer after serving for five years at a particular school.

The teacher who lives in Nagaland with his wife and child, said: “I lost my father-in-law to Covid back in Uttar Pradesh in April. We could not attend his funeral. We took a flight from Dimapur and had a layover in Calcutta. By the time we reached, the cremation was over.”

Last month, his eight-year-old niece died of illness. He decided against travelling to Uttar Pradesh again in view of the difficulties involved, only compounded by the pandemic.

A teacher from Delhi who is posted at a school in Arunachal Pradesh said his wife was pregnant and mother unwell back home. He has not been able to visit them for the past six month.

“I have completed four year in my current assignment. I could have applied for transfer this year but could not because the policy has been put on hold. I am too preoccupied with and worried about the family exigencies back home,” he said, preferring anonymity.

Teachers posted in Kendriya Vidyalayas in places like Tawang and Roing in Arunachal Pradesh, Kargil and Leh in Ladakh, Nubra Valley in Himachal Pradesh and Tamenglong in Manipur face greater hardships due to the high altitude and hostile locations. The KV Pragatisheel Shikshak Sangh (KVPSS), a teachers’ outfit, has urged the Union education ministry and the KVS authorities to resume transfers.

P.V. Chhikara, a teacher at KV Bhatinda and KVPSS secretary, said: “This is so demoralising for the teachers. There are teachers who are suffering from serious ailments and awaiting transfer so that they can get better treatment. We have demanded immediate resumption of the transfer policy.”

An email this newspaper sent to KVS commissioner Nidhi Pandey on August 23 asking about the decision to stop transfers did not elicit a response.