WHY 36 UNIONS ARE ON THE WARPATH
The termination of five teachers in January led to the formation of a joint front, the Adhiyapak Sangharsh Committee. This committee includes 24 unions of the Sanjha Adhiyapak Morcha and 12 unions of Siksha Bachao Manch. HT explains the key unions and the
SSA-RMSA Teachers Union Demands
The 8,886 teachers recruited on contract under the centrallysponsored Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) are demanding regularisation with pay parity. They are protesting against the state’s decision to regularise their services on a monthly salary of ₹15,300, which is a drastic cut as they get ₹37,500 to ₹42,300 per month now. Around 6,000 had already enroled on the government website for regularisation. They are also opposing the state government’s move of cutting salary of teachers, who have not opted for regularisation by 60%.
EGSP Union, AIE Union, STR Union Demands
These teachers are getting a monthly pay of ₹5,000. Recruited under the Alternative Inclusive Education (AIE), Special Trainers (STR) and Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) as volunteers in 2003, they are demanding regularisation of their services with equal work and equal pay. The national scheme was discontinued in 2014 after which they have been working under the state government.
5,178 Master Cadre Union Demands
Recruited under the Pendu Sahyogi Teacher Scheme in November 2014, these 5,178 teachers are also seeking regularisation. Their jobs were to be regularised last year on completion of three years according to the contract when they were recruited. However, nothing has moved. Their case has been sent to the finance department for approval.
Adarsh School PPP Teachers Union Demands
These teachers are working under schools that are run in the public private partnership (PPP) mode, with 70% funding from the state government. They are demanding regularisation and that the government adopts all these schools, along with teachers in the education department. They are also seeking cancellation of termination order of nine teachers.
Computer Teacher Union Demands
The Computer Teacher Union is demanding inclusion in the education department. Their services were regularised in 2011, but they were kept outside the department, hence they do not get any pension, medical and other benefits.