SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Oct 3: Thousands of trained assistant teachers of Jharkhand today held a massive demonstration at the Harmu-based headquarters of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) for breaching the promise given during the 2019 assembly elections. They also announced to intensify the agitation to expose the party.
As per their pre-announced programme, braving heavy rains thousands of trained assistant teachers (erstwhile Para teachers) reached the JMM office and sat on a dharna after holding a demonstration.
The demonstrators became irate when the JMM workers removed the teachers from the office veranda as they took shelter from heavy rains. Leaders alleged that it was done on the directive of JMM general secretary Binod Pandey.
The Jharkhand State Trained Assistant Teachers Association (JSTATA) condemned the inhuman act of Binod Pandey and announced to hold a state-wide agitation if he does not tender an apology for this.
After the demonstration at the JMM office, a delegation of assistant teachers met Finance Minister Rameswar Oraon and handed over a memorandum to him. The Finance Minister assured them to arrange funds for their EPF.
Earlier on Monday, trained assistant teachers had held a hunger strike before the Congress Bhawan alleging a breach of promises.
JSTATA president Md Siddique Sheikh said that in the 2019 assembly elections, both the JMM and the Congress had promised the para teachers that they would adopt the same work same pay policy within three months of forming a government but even after four years they have not acted on their assurance.
“Over 62,000 assistant teachers would continue agitation until they are not recognized as state government employees at par with Bihar,” said Sheikh Siddique.
