Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday finally conceded the long pending demand of about 1.80 lakh Shikshakarmis as he announced that their services would now be merged from Panchayat department to department of school education.
The Shikshakarmis who were on warpath with the BJP government for weeks, cheered the decision and termed it Rs a bold and historic decision’.
Raman Singh who is heading the BJP government in the state for over 14 years, made the announcement while addressing a huge gathering in Ambikapur during his ongoing Vikas Yatra.
Appreciating the contribution of Shikshakarmis in maintaining quality education in the government schools of the state, Singh admitted disparity in perk and allowances to them as comparable to regular teachers and said they (Shikshakarmis) deserve better facilities.
He informed that a high power committee had been formed to look into the charter of demands of the Shikshakarmis and it had submitted its report on June 8.
“Soon a cabinet meeting would be convened in which the report of the high power committee’ regarding demands of Shikshakarmis would be formally approved,’’ Singh announced.
Shikshakarmis Associations have welcomed the decision of CM and thanked him for his Rs great decision’.
State Convener, Nagariya Nikay Shikshak Panchayat Morcha, Virendra Dubey in a statement to press said Rs it was a result of their struggle of long 23 years. It was a long cherished dream of ours’’.
State Congress too has welcomed the decision of the state government about merger of their services and said Congress always stood behind the agitations of Shikshakarmis.
Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupesh Baghel and leader of Opposition T.S. Singhdeo, in a joint statement, congratulated the Shikshakarmis and said Rs Rs the fulfillment of demands were an outcome of their long struggle,’’.