Shiksha Mitras Take Protests to Kumbh to Get CM Adityanath’s Attention

As UP CM Yogi Adityanath, along with his cabinet, took a dip in the “holy” waters at the Kumbh, over one lakh Shiksha Mitras are staging protests at the site, hoping to get the attention of the UP government.

“I have seen so many people commit suicide; because despite the training, they were not being given the jobs they rightfully deserved,” said Dharmendra Kumar, a Shiksha Mitra himself, gearing up for an agitation against the Yogi Adityanath government.

Over one lakh of Shiksha Mitras were recruited by the government in 2001, at the same stature as para teachers. However, the Yogi Adityanath government, which came to power with the promise of offering them regularised jobs, has betrayed them by calling them political agents, and by terming their training and experience conveniently as “backdoor entries”.

Explaining their situation, Dharmendra said, “The primary schools where we were sent were supposed to have five people including three teachers. Many teachers did not get jobs back then as well, following that, when the Sarva Shiksha Scheme came into being, as many as one lakh teachers were not absorbed in its ambit.”

The struggle for recognition has been going on since then. The teachers were trained in two batches previously, and were treated on par with para teachers in the state. A test was also conducted. However, those who were recruited prior to 2009, did not need to take the test, declared the government – leaving the fate of many undecided.

Dharmendra added, “After the first batch of trained teachers going out in 2014, no jobs were given. The matter was also taken to the Allahabad High Court. However, the decision was not in our favour.” Following this, as many as 500 teachers have reportedly committed suicide.

Speaking to Newsclick, many other protesting teachers pointed to a similar pattern of corruption after exam cut-off announcement during the Adhyapak Shikshak Bharti Pariksha (teachers’ recruitment exam).

The ongoing struggle for the past several years and anger among the teachers have led them to launch two parallel movements. The teachers have been protesting across the state, with the strongest impact being seen at Eco Garden in Lucknow, and now at the Kumbh.

Protesting against the complete negligence by the Yogi Adityanath government, the teachers have planned a Tiranga yatra on February 4, from Moradabad to Delhi. The teachers will also intensify their stir at the Kumbh on February 7.

Previously, a delegation of teachers had also met the president. Despite consistent promises of the BJP government, there was no action on the ground.

Also watch: We Protest: Teachers in Distress, Workers Voice their Plight and Citizens Stand For their Rights