Casual Teachers to Continue Protest in Kolkata, Say Govt Dilly Dallying on Their Demands

Kolkata: Over two lakh part-time and other casual teachers working in state and central government projects have decided to continue with the movement that has already completed more than 40 days after negotiations with the West Bengal government failed. 

The state government’s dilly-dallying tactics over their demands are excessive, say the organisations protesting under the banner of  Human Resource Development Auxillally Workers Union (HRDAWU), which represents the project teachers spread across sectors including para teachers. Across the organisations, the protesters demand the same honour and pay scale given to permanent teachers.

Since December 28, 2020, seven associations belonging to HRDAWU have been on a dharna. Many had also staged a dharna January 27 before the state Assembly premises, which was addressed by former state Labour Minister Anadi Sahu  and Centre of Indian Trade Union’s (CITU) state President Subhas Mukherjee . On January 7 this year, the organisations had held a civil disobedience movement at Kolkata .

In these  programmes, all type of contractual teachers, trainers, and non-teaching staff of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and National Child Labour Project (NCLP) schemes, teachers of the state scheme Sishu Shiksha Karmasuchi (SSK) and Madhyamik Shiksha Karmasuchi (MSK), para teachers, vocational teachers and trainers , special educators and Shikhabandhus have participated.

The dole of 3% increment and Rs 3 lakh as retirement benefit  peeved the organisations as they expected the governments to honour them as real teachers and give them fixed pay scale as regular teachers. Para Teachers’ Aikya Mancha, a  non-political organisation with support from CITU and other organisations, has also strongly protested against the offer of the state government  and reiterated their demand of the fixed salary structure. 

All the organisations of HRDAWU have decided to continue with their agitation and follow their court-sanctioned protest route before the Bikash Bhawan (state education directorate) in Salt Lake.   

Interestingly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had given assurance that the demands of para teachers and all the part-time teachers will be addressed and everybody will be absorbed in the regular cadre. However, her words seems to have not assured the protesting teachers’ as talks with government on concrete measures was unfruitful.

Protesters Come From All Over State

Malabika De Sarkar, an SSK teacher, from Meteli block of Jalpaiguri district had to leave her little boy in the care of her neighbours to come join the protest for her livelihood.

In these 40 or more odd days, she has stood rock solid in her intention being with her fellow protesters and many days she would take the mike, either to deliver spirited speeches or sing songs of poets Sukanta Bhattacharya, Najrul Islam, and Sankhya ghosh.

Sukriti Dolui had come from Howrah with her little son in tow to join the agitation programme. Many like her come every day to join the agitation, said Madhumita Bandhyapadhya , the co-convener of Para Teachers’ Aikya Mancha.

Talking to NewsClick, Bandhyapadhya, who is also the general secretary of HRDWAU, said that the long-drawn fight  since the last decade has not worn out  the teachers. “On the contrary, with their rightful demand, they are peacefully conducting rallies  and programmes nearly every week  with iron determination. The Honorable High court had given permission to carry out a peaceful dharna near Bikash Bhavan with upto 7000 persons at a time, which we have adhered to and today is the 45th day of our dharna before the state education directorate,” she said .

On February 2, the part-time teachers will yet again hold a programme to gherao Nabanna, the chief minister’s office, so that she pays heed to their plight into her ears, the HRDWAU said.

For protesters Paritosh Ghoshal or Sagareshwar Das or for physically-handicapped Prasun Karmakar, the issues are similar. Even after having a desirable qualification and experience similar to full-time tecahers, they get a meagre pay of Rs 13,000 rupees as secondary teachers as against the starting pay of Rs 37,000 for teaches of government-aided school. It is a tragic story of pay disparity and compromised honour, which they say affect them both economically and socially.  “We will fight till our last in unison,” they said at the dharna programme .

“Their tenacity is indeed praiseworthy,” said  Subhas Mukherjee, state CITU President, but he also pointed out that one organisation is trying to misdirect the peaceful demonstration and hijack the programme. They have also raised more than Rs 2 crores in the name of standing besides teachers and cautioned the educators and teachers not to fall in their trap. 

All the demands raised by the protesting teachers belonging to different organisations have been listed below:

1. According to educational qualification permanent pay structure as a symbol of honour

2. Female teachers and educators should be provided with CCL , medical leave and PL

3. EPF should be provided from the date of employment  and retirement benefit and pension should be started

4. For 2019, minimum 5% increment and yearly 3% increment should be given

5. In case of death in harness, deceased’s family members (one) should be provided with the job and financial assistance.

Apart from this, SSK/MSK /SSP/Madrasah assistant and educators demand:

1.       SSK/MSK/SSP/Madrasah  centres have got many vacant positions which should be filled up immediately by voluntary teachers and by guest teachers.

2.       In every MSK, class 9 and 10 should be started.

3.       SSK/MSK/SSP/Madrasah Centres  should be included within the Education board.

Parateachers’ demands:

Honour as full-time teachers should be provided and the system of pay structure instead of allowance should be started.

Shikshabandhus’  demands:

1. Like in other states, in this state shikshabandhus should be provided with honour as coordinators and according to their educational qualification, should be given pay structure.

2. They should be provided with the residual amount of the increased allowance.

Special educators’ demands:

1. Holiday roaster should be provided.

2. Transfer should be within their own block and district only.

Demands of the  West Bengal Samagra Shiksha Mission employees:

1. According to ROPA 2019, pay structure should be initiated from 1.1.2020.

2. Full time educator honour should be provided

NCLP teachers and trainers demands:

Clearing of dues, appointment from their pool in case of appointment to government and ULB offices for projects. They should be given health and social security net and retirement benefit.

Technical education teachers’ demands:

1. Creation of permanent posts, increment in wages, social security, festival allowance, retirement benefits and  job to one member of the family of those who died in harness. 

2. All vacant positions in the technical education centres should be filled.

3. Initiative should be taken to draw students to vocational streams and  opening up scopes for their higher education and jobs.