JTET (Jharkhand Teachers Eligibility Test) passed candidates threatened mass immolations on February 10, if their demands are not fulfilled after a month long protest. Approximately 700 Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) passed eligible candidates continued their protest near Raj Bhawan on Friday too as their talks failed with the HRD Minister Neera Yadav on January 28. All these eligible candidates are demanding for permanent recruitment as primary teachers in several government schools functioning in various districts.
The candidates are protesting since January 12 and so far no action has yet been taken to fulfill their demand, inspite of the fact that one protestor died while agitating near Raj Bhawan.
“We are providing education in the interior areas since 2002, keeping all priorities aside. We fulfill all criteria which are required for the teachers’ appointment at primary level but even after keeping our demand nothing has been finalized yet,” informed Omprakash Jaiswal, a teacher from Godda district.
Similarly, Another teacher from latehar, said, “In this protest we have lost one eligible teacher Shankar Ram from Garhwa who died on January 13 and several other protesters are battling for their life at RIMS. We have approached to several people including the HRD minister. Even in the recruitment procedure there are several loopholes.”
After long await and protest, it has been unanimously decided by the eligible candidates who are protesting near Raj Bhawan to take stringent step like mass immolation. Protestors claim that large numbers of post of primary teachers are lying vacant in the schools of the state but the state government is not starting the recruitment drive for these vacant posts.
All the TET protestors have planned series of activities in the coming days to put pressure on the state government. These activities involve protest at the residence of Chief Minister, silent march from Raj Bhawan to Albert Ekka chowk, meeting other officials related to the matter, presenting a letter to CM with all demands clearly mentioned.
On Friday, Gumla MlA, Shivshankar Oraon also came in support of all the TET pass teachers and have assured help and assistance to the protestors.
“We have received positive response from Shivshankar Oraon and now we will approach Secretary with all our demand and if within the given time nothing concrete comes out, then all these teachers will take serious action and the government will be solely responsible for it,” asserted state convener of JTET pass teacher association, Bajrang Prasad.