BJP govt's rationalisation anti-education & anti-employment, will protest soon: Cong
Raipur: The Congress on Monday alleged that the BJP govt plans to shut down 10,000 schools and eliminate approximately 45,000 teaching posts through the rationalisation process.
The Chhattisgarh govt and the school education department has repeatedly claimed that schools will not close under the ongoing rationalisation, but teachers' bodies in the state asserted that the govt is not acknowledging their issues, staging demonstrations on the district level.
Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress committee (CPCC) president Deepak Baij alleged that the rationalisation will lead to a shortage of schools in remote areas, particularly in Bastar, Surguja, and Jashpur.
Baij refuted the govt's claims, calling them a 'lie'.
He reminded reporters that during the Assembly elections, the state govt claimed 58,000 teaching positions were vacant. While the Assembly announced 35,000 posts would be filled and the current year's budget mentioned recruitment for 20,000 teachers, Baij asserted that 45,000 posts are being eliminated to avoid these recruitments.
"When there are no vacant positions, how will they recruit?" Baij questioned, terming the rationalisation process as 'anti-education' and 'anti-employment'.
He warned that closing 10,000 schools will also result in the loss of jobs for thousands of cooks, watchmen, and service staff. The Congress will launch a grassroots movement against this decision, with details on protests in all districts and blocks to be announced shortly.
Baij Raises Concerns Of Fertiliser, Seed Shortage
Baij also raised concerns about a severe shortage of fertilisers and seeds in cooperative societies across the state due to negligence of the govt.
He pointed out that while 3 lakh metric tonnes of DAP are required this year, only 81,000 metric tonnes are currently available.
The monsoon has arrived, and Baij stressed that fertilisers should have already reached the societies, leaving farmers worried. He alleged that the govt does not want farmers to achieve a full harvest and is intentionally withholding supplies to reduce paddy procurement.
'Paddy MSP Hike By Govt Inadequate'
Meanwhile, CPCC communication department head Sushil Anand Shukla criticised the Union govt's recent increase of Rs 69 in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy, calling it 'inadequate.'
Shukla highlighted that last year, paddy MSP increased by 5.36%, rising by Rs 117 from Rs 2,183 to Rs 2,300 per quintal. This year's mere 3% increase is too low, considering the inflation rate is around 8%, Shukla further stressed on the matterss.
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