Jobless after Supreme Court verdict, Bengal teacher dies amid protests
A sacked school teacher in West Bengal, affected by the fallout of the SSC recruitment scam, has died of a stroke, triggering fresh outrage among the protesters. Prabir Karmakar, 34, a former English teacher, was among those who lost his job after the Supreme Court annulled 25,753 school appointments made through the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016.Karmakar, who used to teach at Amuipara Udbastu Vidyapith in Murshidabad, passed away late Wednesday night at his residence in Raghunathganj. Protesters said Karmakar was battling kidney-related issues and was in severe mental distress after losing his job. They claimed the anxiety surrounding his medical treatment and uncertain future led to his death.advertisementThe protesting teachers alleged that they have been completely ignored by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, despite weeks of demonstrations.
The forum Yogyo Shikshak Shikshika Odhikar Mancha, which has been leading demonstrations demanding the reinstatement of qualified teachers, released a statement blaming the state's handling of the issue for Karmakar's death.Amid the rising tensions, the state government on Friday officially published a gazette notification to initiate a fresh round of SSC examination, setting in motion the process for new teacher recruitments."Karmakar was unable to cope with the stress caused by the cancellation of the appointment panel and the ongoing political indecision... the Chief Minister's recent suggestion of re-testing dismissed teachers only intensified the emotional burden, which many were already carrying," a protester, Chinmoy Mondal said.advertisementEarlier in the day, nearly 50 jobless teachers were detained at two locations while they were on their way to the West Bengal state secretariat to stage a protest.The group had assembled to demand the permanent reinstatement of eligible teachers, opposing the state's directive to retake recruitment exams.On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the West Bengal government of destroying the state's education system and betraying thousands. In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of hypocrisy and alleged that corruption was far more rampant in BJP-ruled states.Must Watch
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