Will the Maha government finally engage with teachers over their grant demands?

Mumbai, July 9 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis revealed in the state council that a discussion will be arranged with teachers who are currently gathered at Azad Maidan seeking the payment of previously promised grants.

His remarks came in response to Congress legislator Satej Patil, who highlighted the presence of over 10,000 teachers protesting at Azad Maidan for the grants pledged by the state government. Patil urged the chief minister to engage with the teachers without delay.

The Chief Minister also criticized the Congress-NCP and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government for their lack of support to teachers, accusing them of politicizing the issue. Fadnavis announced that Minister Girish Mahajan is actively coordinating with the teachers' association, and a meeting will be scheduled soon.

"All these schools were founded under the premise of being permanently non-aided, but this term was later removed by the Congress-NCP government. During my initial term from 2014-2019, we initiated the first phase of the grant. Since 2019, the MVA government has failed to allocate any funds, while opposition leaders engage in political maneuvering, which is unacceptable. The state government has assured them of the next phase of the grant, but there are some unresolved issues, and we will convene with the teachers," stated Fadnavis.

Previously, NCP SP chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray visited the protesting teachers to express their solidarity.

Pawar remarked that it is shameful for Maharashtra that teachers must resort to protests.

“Teachers should rest assured; we will address your demands promptly,” he assured.

“Government and semi-government employees are vital components of the Maharashtra administration. Authorities should treat them with the respect they deserve. Teachers also bear responsibilities for other government duties. Just as teachers are accountable, the government must uphold its responsibilities towards them. There should never be a need for teachers to protest,” added Pawar.

He further indicated that the opposition will press the chief minister to swiftly allocate the necessary funds for the teachers' grants.

Moreover, Uddhav Thackeray emphasized in his address: “I stand here to reaffirm our promises from when we were in power. We will not rest until you receive what you rightfully deserve. We often say, ‘Father is God, Mother is God, Guru is God’. However, the rulers are only inclined to heed the voices from Delhi, as they are their true mentors. This is why injustices are being perpetrated against our people. In Maharashtra, those beholden to Delhi have vowed to undermine the sons of the soil and the Marathi community. Let us unite and teach them a lesson they won't forget.”