PATNA: Members of Bihar State Primary Teacher Association on Wednesday demanded their exemption from midday meal work as promised in 2015 and immediately implement equal pay for equal work for the contract teachers.
The association has given January 15 deadline to meet their demand failing which they would go on indefinite
strike from January 16. "We will go for 'jail bharo andolan' if our demand is not met," said association's media coordinator Manoj Kumar.
The association demanded the government to clear the dues of contract teachers by the end of January first week. Before going on strike, they would stage a dharna at JP roundabout near Gandhi Maidan on January 10.
The general secretary of the association, Mahendra Prasad Shahi, said the involvement of teachers in distributing midday meal to the students was a wastage of time, which could be used for teaching purposes.
Shahi said "they had raised this issue in 2015 and the government had then assured us of roping an agency to carry out this work and had sought six months' time. However, no initiative has been taken till now," Shahi added.
He demanded removal of egg from the midday meal menu as people in the rural areas were creating hindrance in distributing eggs at school as it is non-vegetarian food item. The state government has made provisions for one egg every Friday in the midday meal since November last year.
He said the government was giving Rs5 for one egg to them, but it was costly in winter and was available for not less than Rs7 per piece in the market. "High price of egg is also creating a problem for those engaged in midday meal distribution," said Shahi.
