Three fasting members of the association of guest teachers were hospitalised when their health deteriorated on Thursday. Demanding their immediate re-appointment, a large number of guest teachers are camping at the protest site for the last few days.
The police took Arti Uniyal a guest teacher posted in Thatyud block of Tehri Garhwal, Jagat Singh (Gangolihat block of Pithoragarh) and Hira Singh of Pithoragarh to the associated hospital of Doon Medical College when the doctors advised their hospitalization after a medical examination.
The Vice President of the association, Harish Arya told The Pioneer that three new guest teachers sat on the indefinite hunger strike replacing three who were hospitalised on the day. He said that the members of the association are determined to take their agitation to its logical end now.
“We were assured by the Chief Secretary that our demands would be accepted but we want action not assurances which we have had in plenty. We want immediate reappointment of all 6214 guest teachers,’’ he said. Arya informed that more guest teachers have expressed their willingness to sit on the fast unto death. He claimed that former Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani has assured that the association that he too would also sit on a fast unto death in support of guest teachers. It is worth mentioning here that these guest teachers were appointed during the tenure of Mantri Prasad Naithani.
Political support continued to pour for the agitating guest teachers as leader of Opposition in state assembly and state BJP President, Ajay Bhatt also visited the protest site on Thursday and expressed his party’s full support to them. He told the agitators that he personally would bring the issue to the notice of Union HRD minister and secretary.
The State education department had inducted 6214 guest teachers to teach in the vacant posts of lecturers and lecturer Teachers (lTs) on contract basis in the month of August last year. The contract was for 89 days or end of academic session. At the start of new academic session the services of these teachers were removed on April 01 as per the terms of the contract. The agitated members are now demanding that they should be reappointed and hoping to take political mileage leaders of major political parties are supporting their demand.