TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Discriminated Teachers’ Forum has threatened to come on the streets in support of their genuine demands inspite of their old age and seniority.
In a letter addressed to the chief minister, Forum President Neves Anthony Rebello said they have been demanding the lost and deprived benefits of two years increments; revised pensionary and other allied benefits, besides two years of arrears in their pay. He reminded that many a member of the Forum, who were pinning hopes of getting the benefits, have died and gone, never to return back to enjoy the fruits of their hard labour. “What a tragedy Mr Chief Minister! Or, is your government waiting for the remaining lot too, to move to heavenly abode by using delaying and go slow tactics in the matter,” Rebello demanded to know.
The Forum has pleaded with the chief minister to come out with a favourable decision with regards to their demands before the next Assembly session scheduled in January 2014. “If not, we will be forced to come on the streets and agitate. The government alone will be held responsible,” he warned.
The Forum has been waging a battle for the last five years for redressal of the grievances of prematurely retired teachers, who were compelled to retire prematurely at the age of 58 years. “As a consequence of the decision, many of the teachers had to undergo tremendous financial and mental torture”, he said, while adding that their issue has only received lip service and fake assurances from the government.
