Giving a sort of ultimatum, All Jharkhand Primary Teachers’ Association members have threatened of self-immolation in the coming week if their 20-year pending demand for promotion of 18,000 primary teachers was not approved by the State Government. The association members began their one-week hunger strike over this issue near Governor House on Tuesday.
“We had first protested over this demand in December 2012 after which this matter was taken up by the Supreme Court. On March 8 this year, SC had passed a ruling in their favour mentioning that primary teachers should be given their pending career benefits. But, the file of this matter is stuck at the State Human Resources Development Minister Geetashree Oraon’s office. Else, it would have been included in the ongoing Cabinet session and then approved,” said Arvind Kumar Singh, State president of this association.
Arvind informed that if their demands are not fulfilled within seven days they will go for self immolation.
“The Minister is intentionally not considering our demands. State Finance department has completed the required formalities and forwarded to HRD department long back,” Anup Kesari, joint secretary of the association said.
As many as 100 teachers from lohardaga, Bokaro, Ranchi, Gumla and Palamau districts gathered on this first day of hunger strike despite the People’s liberation Front of India (PlFI) bandh across the state today.
The members are expected joining of more number of primary teachers from other districts by Wednesday.