Aggrieved teachers to go on indefinite hunger strike
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 26
Aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the State government, the Discriminated Teachers’ Forum (DTF) will be holding a dharna and an indefinite hunger strike on May 28 at Chief Minister Official residence at Altinho, here.
Around 1,019 discriminated teachers’; who also happen to be senior citizens are aggrieved by the forceful retirement at the age of 58 and have been time and again approaching the State government to fulfill their demands of financial implication, which amounts to Rs 8 crore.
“An ultimatum of 15 days was issued to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on May 12, which expires today but in spite of this there has been no assurance from him to resolve the issue. As such we are forced to demonstrate and have an indefinite hunger strike for our rightful dues,” president of DTF Neves Anthony Rebello told reporters.
He said that it’s been almost nine months since the issue is pending with the chief minister. “On October 29, 2009, when we first took the issue to him, Kamat said that he needs some time to study the demands and accordingly he had directed the account section of directorate of education to verify the financial implications. However, till date there is no firm stand on it,” Rebello stated.
The president said that the indefinite strike will continue till the demands are fulfilled.
DTF members alleged that they were forced to retire at the age of 58, when then Manohar Parrikar government changed the rules and set a new age for retirement from 60 years to 58 years, which was again revised by Kamat government. Apparently, the BJP government had reduced the retirement age in a bid to go in for more recruitment. The Pratapsing Rane government that followed, in keeping with the Congress party’s resolution, increased the retirement age to 60.
“Our demands are just to settle our two years increment along with sixth pay benefit,” the president said.
Meanwhile, a general body meeting of the forum members and all other such senior teachers has been fixed on Thursday at Loyola High School, Margao, to be part of this demonstration and hunger strike.
DTF said that they have received full support from the education minister Babush Monseratte and from the 40 elected representatives of the state.
“Its only chief minister, who is against our grievances,” Rebello said.
It may be recalled that the forum had a candle light procession in the state on the eve of budget session on March 21, 2010, where more than 600 teachers had assembled.
Replying to a question, DTF vice president C K Mathew said that the case of government employees, who retired at the age of 58 and the DTF, should not be treated as same.
“Since last several years the retirement age of the government employees has been 58 years. It was changed only during Kamat tenure and was fixed as 60 years. Whereas teachers retirement age have been always 60 years,” Mathew explained.
“The government employees problem is created by the government it self,” he added.
