40 contract teachers of Mira-Bhayandar schools unpaid for six months ahead of Diwali

Forty contract teachers working in Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation schools have not received their honorarium for the past six months. The teachers who shape children's futures are facing financial hardship in their own homes during the festival season. Because of administrative delay in the education department, the proposal to extend their service remained stuck in files. Citizens are deeply unhappy with the corporation's functioning over the matter.

The corporation runs 36 schools in Marathi, Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati media, with 10,000 students. Posts of permanent teachers were vacant, so 40 contract teachers were hired a year ago to teach secondary and higher secondary classes.

The teachers' term ended in April. Under service rules, the administrative process to extend the term should have been completed before it expired. But owing to negligence in the education department, the proposal was not approved in time. As a result, the teachers' pay was also stopped.

With no salary for six months, the teachers have been left in a situation close to going hungry. They are finding it very hard to pay house rent, their children's school fees, loan instalments and daily household expenses. They have repeatedly gone to the corporation, but have received only assurances. This has caused deep discontent among the teachers.

The teachers are asking why, having taught honestly so that students would not suffer, they are being punished for the administration's mistake.

Sneha Pandey, chairperson of the corporation's Education, Arts, Sports and Cultural Committee, has taken up the serious matter by discussing it with the municipal commissioner and local representatives. She has assured that an order will be issued soon after the commissioner signs. The pending salary will then be paid and the term will also be extended.

All eyes are now on whether the corporation actually provides relief, or whether the teachers' Diwali will pass in financial distress.