Mixed bag, say protesting teachers after edu dept meet
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Kolkata: The SSC teachers' protest saw its first signs of resolution on Monday as the principal secretary of the education department, Binod Kumar, met six representatives of the state school teachers, who had lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order in April.
This meeting took place following an assurance from the state higher education minister, Bratya Basu, on Sunday. The teachers also pointed out that they would not shift to the new location near Central Park as the weather condition was not good.
At the end of the two-hour meeting, which started around 1.30 pm, the six-member team expressed their satisfaction with the draft of the review petition that they were offered to examine during the discussion.
But senior state officials made it clear that they were not aware when it would be heard.
The teachers' representatives told reporters their demands were partially fulfilled as they were satisfied with the review petition draft but were disappointed that they were denied a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee and higher education minister Bratya Basu with whom they wanted to have a discussion for a way out. Brindaban Ghosh, one of the six-member team, said none of them was ready to sit for a fresh examination and that they had communicated their demand to the official.
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"We don't want any notification for a fresh exam. We want the review petition to be accepted by the Supreme Court. The officials said the state was fighting a legal battle for us, and we are waiting to see how they bring our jobs back," he said.
Rakesh Alam, another teacher, said, "We did not get all our answers, so we sent a fresh mail to the education minister. We will not sit for an exam until the meeting is held with the education minister."
Pointing out that they were victims of the situation, another teacher, Habibullah, said the direction of the movement was likely to change as by "taking it to Delhi". He claimed several of those who had lost their jobs had multiple family and health problems, which made it difficult for them to appear for a test again. "We had no connection with those involved with the corruption. We passed all the verifications to get this job but suddenly, we were told about the corruption.
The panel was cancelled for a small number of candidates who took undue advantage," he said. "This verdict sets a vulnerable trend in the country, showing any job panel can be cancelled..."
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