Why Are Teachers in Jharkhand Protesting Over Their Demands?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Teachers in Jharkhand are protesting for overdue salary payments.
- They demand government recognition as state employees.
- The 75% grant-in-aid hike proposal is a central issue.
- The protests highlight the struggles faced by educators in unfunded institutions.
- Teachers vow to escalate their protests if their demands are not met.
Ranchi, Sep (NationPress) On the day when educators nationwide are celebrated for their contributions, a large number of teachers in Jharkhand, who have not been receiving consistent or adequate salary payments, took to the streets to voice their grievances. They conducted a protest outside the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.
The teachers are rallying under the banner of the Vittarahit (unfunded) Shikshak Sangharsh Morcha Mahasangh, advocating for the resolution of their longstanding issues.
During the protest, both male and female teachers chanted slogans, accusing the state government of neglect and deceit. Their primary demands include: immediate approval of the 75% grant-in-aid hike proposal in the state cabinet and timely action on correspondence from the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms, and Official Language directed at the Department of School Education and Literacy.
Raghunath Singh, General Secretary of the Mahasangh, remarked, “It is tragic that while national leaders are honoring teachers, those in Jharkhand are compelled to protest on the streets. Our issues have been overlooked for five years. The government appears to be planning to close down these institutions. We demand that the grant-in-aid proposal be presented to the cabinet and that teachers be recognized as state employees.”
Arvind Singh, Secretary of the Vittarahit Shikshak Mandal, emphasized, “On a day dedicated to honoring teachers, we find ourselves protesting due to governmental negligence. Our two main demands remain unaddressed: approval of the grant-in-aid increase and acknowledgment as state employees.”
He cautioned that the future of numerous educators working in unfunded institutions hangs in the balance because of the government's lack of concern.
Despite operating with limited resources, these teachers persist in their mission to educate. He concluded by stating that if the government does not take prompt action, the protests will escalate.
“Today's demonstration is a warning, but if ignored, we will initiate an indefinite protest,” he asserted.