Slogan shouting costs 22 guest teachers their job in MP schools

At least 22 guest teachers of government schools in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh town have lost their job after they allegedly shouted slogans demanding regularisation of their services before chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a public meeting.

These guest teachers shouted slogans to attract Chouhan’s attention to their demand for regularisation of their service and the inordinate delay in payment of salaries during an Antyodaya programme held at the tehsil ground at Damoh town on April 12.

“If you create disturbances like this you would cease to be even guest teachers and no demands will be accepted,” Chouhan warned the teachers.

The teachers, who taught at primary, middle and higher secondary schools in Damoh, stopped shouting slogans but the education department authorities took the issue seriously particularly because of the chief minister’s displeasure.

Damoh district education officer PP Singh told Hindustan Times the services of 22 guest teachers had been terminated following the divisional commissioner’s orders.

“As per instructions received (from the commissioner, Sagar division), the guest teachers tried to create disturbances in chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Antyodaya Mela programme by raising slogans. Looking into the seriousness of the matter, terminate the services of guest teachers concerned and keep this office informed,” Singh’s order, which was issued to the principals of the schools where these guest teachers taught, read.

Damoh guest teachers’ association president Chandra Shekhar Rai, who also faced action, termed the government action as illegal and devoid of humanitarian aspect.

“We were raising the demands in a democratic manner. We will convey this to our state body which will decide our future course of action,” Rai told HT.

“However, we will continue to fight for our rights,” he added.

Congress state vice-president Govind Rajput said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was suppressing the voices of teachers in an undemocratic manner and that his party stood by the teachers in their fight.