Work Education Instructors Unheard Demands Lead To Peaceful Protest Arrest
Panchkula: Education instructors engaged in the field of work education in government schools across Haryana found themselves embroiled in a distressing situation when their peaceful protest in front of Shiksha Sadan took a tumultuous turn. These instructors, who had been dedicatedly contributing their expertise since August 2014 under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Samagra Shiksha), were fervently advocating for their inclusion within the Council's By Laws 2013. This demand pertained to instructors specializing in diverse disciplines such as music, singing, tabla, fine art, drama, and dance. Their prolonged protest, which commenced on June 22, aimed to secure the rightful recognition they believed they deserved.
As tensions escalated, four instructors resorted to a hunger strike on August 2, an extreme measure to amplify their plea for acknowledgment. Subsequently, Rajesh Khullar, the Additional Chief Secretary, engaged with the instructors and provided assurances of expedited solutions, resulting in the termination of the hunger strike. However, time passed with no tangible progress, prompting a sense of disillusionment among the instructors.
In a poignant display of their desperation, these instructors, distressed by the lack of response, decided to shave their heads in front of Shiksha Sadan on August 28. Tragically, their peaceful demonstration was met with a forceful and unexpected intervention by the police. The law enforcement officials arrested the instructors, transporting them to an undisclosed location on the Yamunanagar road, thereby suppressing their right to peaceful protest. The harrowing journey took a toll on the health of Sangeeta, an instructor from Hisar, who fell seriously ill during transit and required medical attention at the Community Health Center in Mullana.
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Rajat Bhatt, the president of the Work Education Instructors Association, expressed the frustration and sense of neglect experienced by the instructors. Their attempts to engage with the administration and present their grievances to the Chief Minister were consistently thwarted. The lack of response from the government kindled anger among the instructors, leading them to question their future and the value placed on their contributions. The association demanded parity with their peers under Samagra Shiksha, calling for inclusion within the ambit of the By-Laws 2013 and equitable grade pay.
Among those present during the ill-fated demonstration were Rajat Bhatt from Kurukshetra, Deep Kumar from Panipat, Sangeeta Devi from Hisar, Sunil Kumar from Jind, Sunil Kumar from Sirsa, and Paramjit Mann from Ambala. The distressing incident underscored the instructors' unwavering determination to gain recognition for their crucial roles in shaping young minds, and it shed light on the challenges they faced in being heard and acknowledged by the authorities.
