On the occasion of Teachers’ day, the primary teachers of Government schools of the State staged a massive protest at Parade Ground here on Tuesday.
The protest was part of a country-wide protest by the All India Primary Teachers Association. Under the banner of the Prathemik Shikshak Sangh (PSS), the association of primary teachers of State, the teachers assembled at the Parade Ground and held the protest meet.
Addressing the teachers, the President of the PSS, Nirmala Mahar said that the primary teachers of the country are united on three demands. She said that the teachers want immediate withdrawal of the new pension scheme and implementation of old one.
The general secretary of the PSS, Digvijay Singh said that the discrepancies of the VI pay commission should be removed and VII pay commission recommendations should be implemented across the board for all teachers of the country.
He said that a National Commission for Primary Education should be constituted on the lines of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The speakers on the occasion, appeared particularly peeved at the new pension scheme under which there is no family pension which is provided to the spouse of the pensioner after his/her death.
They said that there is a need for unity among all employees of Government and State services on the issue of dismantling new scheme of pension and implementation of the old scheme.
Under the new pension scheme applicable after 2005, a fixed percentage is deducted from the salary of the employee per month and an equal contribution is provided by the Government.
The corpus thus made, is the basis of the pension of the employee after his retirement.
The speakers on the occasion said that they were mislead initially about the benefits of the new pension scheme but now everyone has understood limitations of this scheme.
large number of teachers from all parts of the State descended on the protest site in the city on the day and expressed solidarity with the objectives of the All India association of primary teachers.
The leaders of the PSS resolved to continue the struggle till the Government accepts all their demands.