Never in their wild imagination would the para teachers have thought that they will need to put their lives in risk to achieve what has been promised by the state government. As their fast entered fifth day, two para teachers have been shifted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) after their condition deteriorated.
The teachers- Sanjay Kumar Dubey and Betka Soren among five others - were on fast to press for the long pending demands which was incidentally promises made by the Human Resource Development Minister Geetashree Oraon. However they landed in hospital as their pulse rates plummeted. Their condition is said to be normal.
"We are undergoing treatment however there is no one to take care of us. We have been raising our voice for our demands but no official approached us to communicate government's stand on our demands" said president of Jharkhand Pradesh Para Teachers Association, Sanjay Kumar Dubey.
Notably, the para teachers have demanded immediate implementation of wage increment, giving priority to para teachers rendering service in a district in the recruitment of the primary teachers besides reserving 50 percent of the vacancy for para teachers, maternity leaves for para teachers and 16 days of emergency leave.
“Our demands are genuine so if they are not fulfilled we will politicize the issue and may campaign against the minister and the government in the coming elections,” added General Secretary of the association, Vikrant Jyoti.
The para teachers have also demanded setting up a welfare fund for them similar to National Teacher Welfare Foundation (NTWF) to provide relief to contract teachers. Incidentally, the state is yet to take steps in the direction of linking regular teachers with NTWF.
Minister HRD and officials of the department were unavailable for their comment.