Para teachers call off strike on assurance

Para teachers ended their protest on Tuesday evening after receiving written assurance from Chief Secretary, Sudhir Tripathy. Notably, the para teachers had begun their march on April 17 from five commissionaires to gherao CM House with list of demands and have planned to stage massive protest.

“We have received a letter from the State government. As per the letter, consent has been given on a few issues. The letter suggests that a high level committee have been formed to deal with the issue of para teachers on two major fronts-- job regularization and salary issue. The committee will have to submit the report within 60 days,” said, Member, Jharkhand Para Teachers Mahasangh, Bajrang Prasad.

The list of demand includes equal pay for equal work, constitution of para teachers’ welfare fund, direct appointment of JTET qualified para teachers as assistant teachers and cancellation of school meager plan.

The Chief Secretary on April 23 ordered to constitute high level panel on para teachers’ demands. Besides the bureaucrats, this special panel is likely to have the representatives of Jharkhand Para Teachers Mahasangh. Another member of Jharkhand Para Teachers Mahasangh, who attended the meeting called by the Chief Secretary, said that they were hopeful that this time some action will definitely be taken.

“We waited for long hours to receive the letter from the Chief Secretary and at the end of the day, our determination won. After two months, final report will be tabled which will further suggest that whether the government is in our support or not,” said Sanjay Dubey, a member of the Mahasangh.

According to the records, more than 70, 000 para teachers lend their service at government schools across the State appointed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) scheme for strengthening elementary education.

The agitators who have gathered from across the State had threatened the State Government to go on indefinite strike, if in case, their demands were not fulfilled. By April 30, over 70, 000 para teachers’ were expected to join the protest.

Nevertheless, several para teachers’ at Morhabadi Children’s Park appeared hopeful after their representatives received the official letter. Keeping their fingers crossed para teachers who staged protest against the State government’s apathy on April 23 said that though we are ending the protest now but will again raise our voice, if our demands are not fulfilled in the stimulated time.

Urmila Topno, a protestor from Palamau district, said, “We desperately need a stable job. If State government fails to fulfill its promise than massive protest will be carried out across the State. 60 days time is more than enough for any committee to review the clauses and take apt action. We have not received salary since past four months but still we have faith in the system.”