Around 600 teachers affiliated to the Permanently Unaided Schools Union protesting at Azad Maidan after they were stopped from taking out a candle march. (Photo: Debasish Dey)
Around 600 teachers affiliated to the Permanently Unaided Schools Union protesting at Azad Maidan after they were stopped from taking out a candle march. (Photo: Debasish Dey)
Around 600 teachers affiliated to the Permanently Unaided Schools Association courted arrest at Azad Maidan after they were stopped from taking out a candle march to highlight the apathy of the government after the death of a teacher in Aurangabad. The union has demanded the resignation of education minister Vinod Tawde for forcibly trying to silence the voices of dissent.
Speaking about the problem faced by teachers in unaided schools, Prashant Redij, spokesperson for the association said, “The unaided schools have been finding it difficult to sustain themselves and the high court took cognisance of the same and directed the government to start giving grants to the schools. However it’s been three years since the government started the process of approving schools for grants but has failed to release grants till date,” said Redij.
He added that teachers were finding it difficult to make ends meet and a senior teacher Gajanan Kharat from Aurangabad succumbed to the pressure recently. “The government did not show any sympathy towards Kharat and his family and hence we decided to have a silent protest. But, rather than heeding to the teachers the government resorted to suppressing the protests,” said Redij.
On Monday, as 600 teachers prepared to start a candle march to protest the government’s apathy, the police swooped down on them and did not allow them to take out the march. The teachers were arrested and later let off.
“Such a response by the government shows that they are not inclined to address the problems of the unaided schools and the sufferings of the teachers are bound to increase. We have written to the chief minister demanding action against education minister Vinod Tawde and have also demanded that he take moral responsibility of the death of the teacher and resign,” said Redij.
The association has been protesting for the issue for the past two years.
