SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 10: More than 60,000 assistant teachers (para teachers) in Jharkhand will go on strike starting October 15, protesting the government’s failure to implement a previously agreed-upon deal.
The Jharkhand State Assistant Teachers Action Committee has officially notified the chief minister and the state’s School Education and Literacy Department, citing the non-implementation of the August 28, 2024, agreement as the cause of their protest.
Govt’s unfulfilled assurances
During the August 28 negotiation meeting, the state government had promised to provide assistant teachers with an honorarium equivalent to a salary and access to Employee Provident Fund (EPF) benefits.
However, the Action Committee claims that the agreement was not passed in the state cabinet, prompting their decision to strike.
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Gherao and black flag protests
Siddique Sheikh, a representative of the Action Committee, announced plans for an agitational program ahead of the strike. On October 14, the day before the strike begins, the assistant teachers will stage a symbolic funeral procession for the finance minister, education minister, and Giridih Sadar MLA (JMM), who had mediated the initial agreement.
After beginning their strike on October 15, the protesting teachers will gather in Ranchi on October 17 for an indefinite gherao (blockade) of the chief minister’s residence.
In addition, with the assembly elections approaching, the agitating teachers have decided to show black flags to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Jharkhand, as well as to other leaders of the ruling parties.
A committee of key leaders, including Binod Tiwari, Binod Bihari Mahto, Sanjay Dubey, Wrishikesh Pathak, Siddique Sheikh, Sintu Singh, Vikash Kumar, Niranjan Kumar Dey, Suman Kumar, Bilal Ahmed, Narottam Singh Munda, and Sushil Kumar, has been formed to ensure the success of the strike.
