Amidst the ongoing protests by state government primary teachers in West Bengal demanding revision in their pay scale, the Kolkata police today detained the protesting teachers outside the West Bengal Assembly.
Kolkata: Police detained state government primary teachers who were protesting outside West Bengal Assembly demanding revision in their pay scale. pic.twitter.com/SGYqKtbyim
— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2019
The primary teachers have been staging protests since June 12 demanding an increment in their salaries as per their qualifications. On June 17, clashes had erupted between the Shishu Shiksha Kendra (SSK) and Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra (MSK) teachers and the police officials after they were stopped by the police at Mayukh Bhawan island while trying to reach Bikash Bhawan to meet the State Education Minister and put forward their grievances. This irked the protestors and the police resorted to baton-charging.
#WATCH West Bengal: Teachers protest at Bikash Bhavan, Kolkata demanding higher wages among other demands. pic.twitter.com/Awux6hZ0s0
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019
The salaries of the teachers have allegedly not been increased for the last eight years. According to the Teachers Unity Open Forum General Secretary, Moidul Islam, the SSK, and the MSK teachers get Rs 5,900 only as salary.
“We are 70,000 teachers. For the past eight years, our salary has not been increased by a single rupee. SSK and MSK teachers get Rs 5,900 as salary. We have given a deputation to the Education Minister several times. That’s why we have been sitting on a demonstration for the past six days. We will go to Bikash Bhawan. Our demand is to be given a salary according to our qualifications”, said Islam.
The teachers had earlier held protests in the month of March this year with the same demands and had also met the West Bengal Governor and the State Education Minister. They were reportedly assured that their demands would be heard after the Lok Sabha elections.
