In support of their five-point demands, especially that of “Same work, same pay” nearly five thousand para teachers staged massive protest on Monday at Morhabadi Ground.
The teachers had begun their march from April 17 from five commissionaires to demonstrate their agitation near CM house.
However, they were stopped near Governor House and were kept in camp jail for five hours. Meanwhile, considering the large scale impact of protest of para teachers on school children enrolled in 40,000 government schools across the State, Chief Secretary (CS), Sudhir Kumar Tripathi conducted a meeting with the members of Jharkhand Para Teachers Mahasangh on Monday afternoon.
During the meeting, a decision to constitute a high level committee has been taken which will review the rules of other States for implementation of welfare schemes and on job regularization.
Meanwhile, despite assurances from the State government, the eight-member delegation that met the CS with list of demands said that until they get written assurance on this issue, they will continue their agitation.
“None of the para teachers will be going back to their homes until we get a written assurance over this. As far as the meeting with the CS is considered, it went well. If he gives written assurance, the protest will be called off immediately, else the protest will continue,” said, Member, Jharkhand Para Teachers Mahasangh, Bajrang Prasad after conducting meeting the CS. Till late evening, para teachers were not given any written assurance.
By April 30, over 70, 000 para teachers are expected to join the protest. Also, on May 1, the agitating para teachers will go on hunger strike causing severe impact on the routine functioning of government schools.
The list of demand includes equal pay for equal work, constitution of para teachers’ welfare fund, direct appointment of JTET (Teachers Eligibility Test) qualified teachers, annulment of school meager plan. Several protesters waiting for written assurance at Morhabadi Ground unanimously added that this time their protest will only end with the fulfillment of their long pending demands.
Bishwa Munda, a protester who was in the camp jail, said, “We are paid like peasants for a noble profession like teaching. It is a complete failure of the State Government in providing job satisfaction and stability. I have a family to feed, but, I can barely manage my expense from the income I get from teaching.”
Similarly, Rupa Topno, another protestor from Gumla said, “Our protest will continue if the authorities act deaf to our demands. Our demand is equal pay for equal work. We are paid very less for the kind of work we do.”