The Bharatiya Suraaj Dal has taken cognizance of the decision of the Government to give the right of granting casual leave to primary and secondary school teachers, Head Masters and doctors to the Mukhia, and the salary of Head Masters, teachers and doctors posted in Panchayat areas being paid on the report of the Mukhia.
The Civil Surgeon at the District level and Block level doctors have been similarly placed under Zila Parishad Chairman and the Block Pramukh for grant of Cl. The Dal has also taken note of the threats by the Jharkhand State Health Services Association of mass resignations by doctors, and the teachers associations’ threats of strike if the decision is not repealed.
The empowerment of the Panchayati Raj Institutions has been on the agenda of the BSD, and it believes that the entire administrative structure has to be in some measure made accountable to the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
However, the Dal believes that every policy decision should be taken by the Government after involving every stake-holder. The Government should stop taking unilateral policy decisions and in future it must hear the concerns of all stake-holders before taking a final decision, so that a cogent and widely acceptable policy framework may emerge.
The BSD appeals to the doctors and the teachers both not to take a belligerent stand, and respect the local self-Government’s rights and privileges as well. Both the teachers and the doctors are among the highly respected communities, and the party is sure that they would understand that the interests of the State and the nation should be placed above the class interests.
There have been persistent complaints that the teachers are often absconding unauthorised way from the rural schools or sub-letting the job to other less competent people. Similar grievances against exist rural doctors too. Unless an element of local supervision is introduced with adequate safeguards to protect teachers and doctors from local political exploitation, justice cannot be done to the hapless lot of rural patients and poor school children in the villages.
The party therefore appeals to the Government on the one hand and the doctors and the teachers on the other to arrive at a settlement in favor of the poor and the long exploited masses in the rural areas, shedding false sense of administrative arrogance or professional prestige.