Teachers are furious over the orders of dismissal of state office bearers of the Vocational Teachers Association. Teachers have decided to continue the relay hunger strike till Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu returns to Shimla. Teachers, who are on strike since March 30, are demanding the removal of private companies.
The teachers’ relay hunger strike continued at Chaura Maidan in Shimla on Thursday as well. The teachers’ association is demanding their appointment through the education department instead of private companies. Vocational Instructor Association President Ashwini Dadhwalia said that companies are acting arbitrarily. Teachers are being given an ultimatum to join the schools within 48 hours through email. If they do not do so, they are told that they will be dismissed from the job.
He said that show cause notices were not issued to teachers. Companies are adopting tactics to crush the protest. The president said that their agitation will continue till the government does not fulfill their demands. Companies should be removed and they should be paid salary from Samagra Shiksha and the education department should make the appointments.
He said that about 2174 vocational teachers from all districts of Himachal Pradesh have been protesting for the last 12 days. On Wednesday, a delegation of teachers met Shimla city MLA Harish Janartha. Janartha assured that he would soon make them meet the Chief Minister. The teachers’ union also met Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar and apprised him of their demands.