Even as the Block Grant (BG) teachers and employees’ strike entered its fourteenth day on Tuesday, the second round of discussion between the teachers’ representatives and the Government on the day, which continued for over two hours, also remained inconclusive like the first one last week. There would be yet another round of discussion on Wednesday.
Most employees under the Block Grant have very few years to go before they retire and want the Government to regularise them soon since it would enable them to avail latest pay panel benefits besides pensions and other perks. So, it is natural that they should be in haste as regards fulfillment of their demands for grant in aid.
This section of employees getting Block Grant is a harried lot since they have had to work without proper dues and life went on amid endless trials and tribulations. At least, they hope that the Government would be sympathetic towards them when they are at the fag-end of their service career. So this time, teachers of all shades and varieties from madrasa to high school to college have got united as their last ditch effort for a dignified livelihood.
But is the Government equally concerned and empatheticIJ The answer is a big “no”. This Government is in power for last 17 years and it knows very well as to how the teachers have been suffering and how education is hit due to agitation by the teachers. All it wants is its own pound of flesh. Paying grant as per law is not considered a responsibility; on the contrary, grant is considered as sop like subsidised rations and other free gifts given to the poor voters to get vote. Consequently, the Government is not in a hurry in the least.
The question is, is the election held tomorrowIJ If grant is given now, what guarantee is there that the ruling party would get vote after nearly two years, when the next elections are dueIJ So during the latest round of discussion with the teachers' representatives, the Government drove a hard bargain.
In the previous times, the Government also had given grant to teachers immediately before the polls; first in 2004, then in 2009 and subsequently in 2014. Respect for teachers and considering their problem from a high moral and ethical ground is a thing of the past.