Nagpur: Grant-in-aid schools are up in arms over the state government’s decision to hire Class-IV employees on contractual basis only. This will affect peons and guards in aided schools, who are needed for multiple things in school. This decision does not affect current employees.
Sapan Nehrotra, secretary of Shikshak Bharti, said the state government needs to scrap the decision. “The December 11 GR has heralded the complete privatization of education. For so many years the government has been neglecting this sector, which caters to children from low income families. This elimination of Class-IV employee posts is the start. Then they will target lab assistants and librarians. Then will come a freeze on teacher hiring, thus forcing schools to shut down,” said Nehrotra.
He said their organization is preparing for a major protest if this GR is not cancelled in the upcoming assembly session in Mumbai.
Vidarbha Junior College Teachers Association (VJUCTA) says the government is basically finishing the ‘support’ system. Ashok Gavhankar, general secretary, said the amount approved by the government is very low. “Even contractual hiring rates are so low that no one will come to work. The average hiring rate is Rs7,500 per month for city and Rs5,000 per month for rural schools. Only Mumbai and Pune schools will get more. The contract rates are so low that no one will come and work,” said Gavhankar.
The current salary range for peons and guards is Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 per month. Gavhankar said, “Peon’s post is one of a multi-tasker. He is expected to clean rooms, ring the bell, open and lock the campus, manage filing system, coordinate with education department and board office, as well as with pay unit for salary bills.” This means the person handling this job needs to well versed in government rules, educated enough to understand the GRs, circulars etc.
Various other school principals told TOI that the new GR is like a death knell for schools. “People will work if the pay is commensurate with the profile. Else they will simply join here as a stopgap measure and move out at the first available opportunity,” said a principal.