Human Resource Development (HED) Minister Geetashree Oraon expressed her department’s helpless attitude in solving the current imbroglio over conducting JAC matric and Intermediate examinations here on Sunday.
In a meeting with the agitating members of Jharkhand Vith Rahit Shiksha Sanyukt Morcha she said, “We are incapable to take a decision on the teachers’ demands of 525 aided High School and 300 affiliated Intermediate Colleges who are on strike for past few days. We will forward the matter to Cabinet and discuss the same with CM and Finance Minister and then can take the final decision.”
The minister had called the meeting with the teachers so that they end their infinite strike which started 12 days back and asked then to cooperate in the matriculation and intermediate examination commencing from February 21.
Principal Secretary of the department K Vidyasagar was also present in the meeting.The Minister said that the guidelines of HRD department clearly mentioned that the institutions who had accepted to conduct the board examinations could not deny discharging their duties else legal action will be taken.
“We do not want this to happen so requested the teachers to call off their strike,” she said.The Minister supported her words by saying that the role of her department is already done in fulfilling the demands.
The matter is now stuck in other departments resulting in problems like the ongoing strike.Notably, the teachers want that the permanent affiliated colleges should either be absorbed by the Government as constituent or the staffs should be provided deficit grant.
Also, they want the State Government to make necessary amendments in the Vith Rahit teacher’s regulation 2005 and 2008. The grant of Sanskrit school and Madrasa teachers (in the list of aided schools and affiliated colleges) is one of their last demand. According to the minister, the details of staffs of all such schools and colleges are to be done by Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC).
In 2008, then HRD minister Bandhu Tirkey had also said that it is a very complicated matter. “Reaching out to each college individually is an additional job for the department. Due to this reason JAC was given the responsibility to go through the data record of every college back in 2008. Unfortunately, JAC could not prepare report on any college nor has it forwarded the process but still we have entered the data of few colleges. Now we would like JAC to complete the rest of the process,” she said.
The teachers protesting under the banner of Jharkhand Vitt Rahit Shiksha Sanyukt Morcha had asked for a written assurance by the Minister which was overlooked. “Had the minister given a written assurance that she will take the matter to the Cabinet then we would have convinced our members to end the strike. But, now it is not possible,” President of this Morcha, Raghunath Singh said.
Singh added, “Minister had agreed to our problems and it was at the last stage but because of the objection of Principal Secretary it was decided to take the matter to Cabinet. So, we are determined that we will continue this dialogue with the Government besides our strike.” As of now HRD department is prepared to conduct the mentioned examinations on time and has directed all the Deputy Commissioners to gear up for the preparations.