Fed up with the callous approach of the State Government the agitating federation of Shiksha Acharyas here has decided to intensify its stir in the coming days.
The Shiksha Acharyas are sitting on an indefinite Dharna at the Old Raipur Bus stand near the Parade ground here from June 3, 2012 in demand of their single point agenda of inclusion into Shiksha Mitras. The President of Shiksha Acharyas / Instructor Federation Devendra Singh Bisht informed The Pioneer that to bring out of the school children in fold of elementary education the State Government opened Elementary Guarantee Scheme (EGS) centers in remote and inaccessible places and employed Shiksha Acharyas under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
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. A total of 2,883 Shiksha Acharya and instructors were employed from 2001 to 2008 under SSA and were given a paltry wage of Rs 2,500 only. The Government decided to shut these EGS and AIE centers in a phased manner from the year 2008 and by March 31 2012 all such centers were closed.
Bisht said that the State Government adjusted 1113 candidates out of these 2883 as Shiksha Mitras in primary schools of the State. Now the remaining 770 candidates are demanding to be adjusted as Shiksha Mitras (these Shiksha Mitras are given a monthly stipend of Rs 13000. These Shiksha Acharyas now allege that they have been given false promises many times by the State Government, “we have been cane charged and dragged on road by the police but we will continue our struggle till our very justified demand is met with, “said one such candidate Parmindra Kumar. The President of the Federation said that their patience is fast waning and the State Government should be blamed if the peaceful agitation turns violent.