SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 27: Tension prevails in Godda as the health condition of school cooks who are on fast-unto-death agitation, became critical on Saturday evening and they refused to be admitted to the hospital until their demands are accepted.
School cooks Sureshwari Devi and Sushila Devi have been on fast-unto-death agitation at Ashok Stumbh Chowk in Godda since July 25 demanding the withdrawal of the retrenchment order of the district education department.
Both women fell unconscious
In the evening today as both women fell unconscious and their health began deteriorating a team of doctors arrived and tried to get them hospitalized immediately. But both the agitators refused to go.
6600 school cooks in Godda district camped at the agitation spot in solidarity with fasting women. Former MLA Sanjay Yadav and leaders of the CPIML are also camping in support of the agitation.
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Agitating cooks have announced self-immolation tomorrow
They are agitating under the banner of the Jharkhand State Rasoiya ( schools cooks) Association and have announced self-immolation tomorrow ( July 28 ) at 4 pm if the retrenchment order is not withdrawn.
State Association senior leader Manoj Kumar Kushwaha, who is also Godda district in-charge, resented that both the women have been on fast unto death for the last three days. Still, neither the district administration nor District Superintendent of Education (DSE) Mridula Tudu has taken cognizance of it so far.
“It is a matter of concern that former MLA Sanjay Yadav rang up the deputy commissioner three times over fast unto-death agitation of both the women but he ( DC) did not receive the calls. Now if any untoward incident happens with both the women, the district administration as well as the district education department will be responsible for that,” said Manoj Kumar Kushwaha.
He further added that 81,000 school cooks of the state would descend on roads in protest of the apathetic attitude of the Godda administration.
