The association of Shiksha Acharyas and Instructors has demanded that the policemen responsible for lathi-charge on its peaceful demonstration on Saturday should be punished.
The members of the association had organised a march to the residence of Chief Minister on Saturday during which the police retorted to lathi-charge to disperse the agitated Shiksha Acharyas. The police also arrested 80 members of the association and took them to Suddhowala Jail.
On Sunday, the members of the association gathered at the agitation site and expressed strong opposition on the use of excessive force by the police. The treasurer of the association Khem Singh said that eight Shiksha Acharyas who sustained injuries are still in different hospitals.
He said that ear drum of one Gautam Mandal of Udham Singh Nagar got damaged while the leg of Gulshad of Haridwar got fractured due to the police action and both of them were shifted to the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT) by their relatives.
The media in charge of association, RK Mamgain said that the State Government is now trying to end the longest agitation in the history of State by using brute force but the intension of the Government would not get fulfilled. He said that the State Cabinet on four occasions in past has decided to accept the demand of the association but the State Government refrained from releasing the Government Order (GO) for reinstating 910 Shiksha Acharyas and Shiksha Mitras. Mamgain said that the members of the association are determined to continue the agitation till the GO is released.
In what is the longest agitation in the history of state, the Shiksha Acharyas are sitting on an indefinite Dharna at Old Raipur Bus stand near the Parade ground from June 3, 2012. The single point agenda of their agitation is to absorb them in State education department as Shiksha Mitras. The Dharna of the association completed 1582 days on Sunday.
The Shiksha Acharyas were employed at a paltry wage of Rs 2500 per month to bring out of the school children in fold of elementary education under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the year 2001. For very deprived children like those living in streets some Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centers were also opened under SSA and instructors were posted in them.
The Government later decided to shut these centers in a phased manner from the year 2008 and by March 31 2012 all such centers were closed. The State Government adjusted some Shiksha Acharyas and instructors as Shiksha Mitras in primary schools of the state. Now the remaining 910 candidates are demanding to be adjusted as Shiksha Mitras.