Irate para teachers blocked the NH-98 in Palamu at Chhaterpur protesting against the callous indifference and apathy of the district education official towards a para teacher Rajinder who died last night as his monthly honorarium was held up for more than a year said sources.
The DSP Chhaterpur Sameer Tirkey confirming this NH 98 blocked said the para teachers were angry over the death of their colleague Rajinder who was working in a new primary school under Naudeeha block in Palamu. The DSP said negotiation is on to lift the blockade. Till the time of reporting there was no let up in the situation of this NH 98 blockade.
The Palamu District superintendent of education (DSE) Ram Prasad Mandal conceded that Rajinder was going without his honorarium over the last many months. Mandal tried to pass the buck on the Prakhand Sikccha Samiti for this loss of life of this para teacher who died in stark poverty. The DSE hastened to add that a block education officer has been rushed with payment of the deceased for the period April 2014 to December 2014 which would be given to his next of kin.
On being asked as to why after death this rush of payment the DSE had no answer to this saying “This matter is of the period when I was not here”. Further pestered the DSE opened up saying “This deceased para teacher was kept under scanner for unauthorised selection and hence his honorarium was put on holds”.
But reminded that the same para teacher is now being given his dues and if his selection as para teacher is under scanner then there ought not to be any payment of honorarium for the period April to December 2014 the DSE had no explanation except blaming the Prakhand Sikchha Samiti for this death of the para teacher.
It is not immediately known as to under which wage packet this deceased para teacher was as para teacher gets honorarium of Rs7,800 per month, Rs8,400 6,500 andRs5,000 too.