Para-teachers call off stir after assurance by edu minister

Para-teachers, who had been observing an indefinite fast over the past 27 days demanding a hike in salary, withdrew their stir on Thursday, following assurances by state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee that their demands would be taken up for consideration.

The teachers hoped that the state government would find a solution, which would be beneficial for both sides, in the next three months.

Bhagirath Ghosh, the co-convenor of 'Para-teachers Oikyo Manch' - an organisation which has been spearheading the agitation - said the hunger strike was withdrawn at 3 pm on Thursday -- a day after the minister assured them that the state would look into their demands.

"We are satisfied with the assurance given to us by the minister. He listened to us patiently and said the government will examine all documents related to our demands and take up the matter for discussion at the next Cabinet meeting," Ghosh told PTI.

Over 1000 para-teachers, who work on contract in government-run schools, have been staging a sit-in since November 11 near Bikash Bhavan (higher education department headquarters) in Salt lake, demanding a revision in pay scale.

The agitators have also sought "elementary teacher" status for them.

At least 37 of them are observing an indefinite fast since November 15 over the two demands.

Chatterjee, however, had been insisting that they withdraw the protest, claiming that the government did not have the ability to accede to their demands, at this point in time, as it would incur a huge expense on the exchequer.

"Without job regularization, there could be a problem in hiking salary. Chatterjee has told us that he would do whatever was possible for our welfare," Ghosh stated.

The co-convenor of 'Para-teachers Oikyo Manch' also said that he had been handed over the minutes of the meeting with the education minister.

"There is no point in continuing our agitation at this juncture. We are hopeful that the state will find a solution to our problems over the next three months," he added.

Chatterjee had on Wednesday claimed he needed time to study all the papers and documents related to their demands.

He also said that he had done his best to convince the agitating teachers to call of their agitation.