Team Herald
PANJIM: In the time of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a five-month-old pregnant para teacher is compelled to risk her to-be born’s life as she is at Agassaim Police Station for two days demanding regularisation of service.
She is not alone. Several para teachers, most of whom are married and mothers have also left their families behind to remind the government its promise.
Around 100 para teachers were on Thursday detained by the police from their original protest site at Azad Maidan, here, after they announced to walk to the Goa Legislative Assembly. Since 11.30 am on Thursday, these para teachers continue to be at the police station.
Police say, they released the detainees on the same evening but the protesting teachers are adamant not to leave the premises till government gives a written assurance regularising their service.
“We do not trust the government. They have betrayed us. We will not disperse until government gives us in writing that our services will b regularised,” Avila Fernandes, one of the aggrieved para teachers told Herald from their new protest venue.
The BJP government had assured 129 para teachers of giving them priority for regularisation of their service. However, there has been no progress since then. Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, on the floor of the House on Thursday, said the para teachers will be accommodated depending on the availability of vacancies.
Babita Naik recalls that then Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar and ex-BJP State President Vinay Tendulkar (now Rajya Sabha MP) had accepted their demand with an immediate assurance to upgrade them. Minister Nilesh Cabral and MLA Prasad Gaonkar were also amongst them.
“We were told to undergo training and complete in-service training, which we readily agreed. All of us have completed the required trainings but since 2017 till date, the government has not heeded to its own assurance,” Naik, also a para teacher said.
Politician Adv Pratima Coutinho, who was the first to meet the protesting teachers at the police station, told Herald that the government is suppressing the voice of the para teachers.
“The government is trying to suppress the para teachers. Is this why we educate our daughters? When the government’s talk about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ it should be respected,” she said.
“It is shameful of the government for what has been happening due to its empty promises.”
While Countinho spent around 12 hours with the teachers at the police station, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat met them at dawn after the second day’s session concluded at around 4.15 am, on Friday.
As the para teachers continue their protest, Congress and Aam Admi Party provided them with the meals and water on Thursday while Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar sponsored their meals, on Friday.
