Agitating RMSA workers burn effigy of Union Govt

Intensifying their agitation the contractual workers of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) burnt the effigies of Union Government and Member of Parliament from the State on Wednesday. The RMSA workers who are agitating from last 114 days for renewal of their contract assembled at the agitation site near parade ground in the morning and then marched towards the lansdowne chowk. The members burned the effigies of five lok Sabha MPs from the state and that of Union Government. One of the agitators Naveen Bisht however had a miraculous escape when his clothes caught fire when the effigies were being consigned to fire. He was unhurt as the fire was immediately doused off.

The agitators were particularly annoyed with the union government as they blame it for their present state of affairs. The union government had stopped funding their salaries due which the state government terminated their contract. The state president of the association Vivek Bhatt said that the agitation of RMSA workers would continue and would be further intensified. He said that 1863 workers and their families are facing problems due to the decision to terminate the service contract. Bhatt claimed that salaries of last six months of the RMSA workers are withheld as the Union Government has not released the funds.

The State Government relented after the protest of the association and decided to create posts for them in the government schools in which some weightage would be given to them in the entrance examination. The proposal however was rejected by the organisation which is sticking to its one point agenda of restoration of their contract.