Contract teachers in Palghar begin fast unto death against PESA reservation, two fall ill

Contract teachers in Palghar district began an indefinite fast unto death on Monday (October 26). They said the protest was meant to draw the attention of elected representatives and the government. Two of the fasting teachers fell ill at night and had to be admitted to hospital for treatment.

Ninety contract teachers are taking part. Suvarna Salunkhe and Manasvi Patil were taken to a private hospital after their health deteriorated. Patil returned to the protest site after treatment. Salunkhe, however, is still being treated at Gandhe Hospital.

All of them work on an honorarium basis as contract teachers in Palghar district. The candidates, from the OBC, SC, NT, VJNT, SBC and all other non-tribal categories, are eligible for the jobs, but they have been hit by PESA reservation. They want to be made permanent in their jobs.

The agitation has been under way outside the residence of MP Dr Hemant Savara since August 21. The protesters say 66 days of sitting in dharna there have brought no justice. They say the government offers only discussions and assurances, with no concrete decision. As the dharna achieved nothing, the local teachers took up an indefinite hunger strike from Monday.

The PESA reservation problem has existed since 2014. In PESA districts in Maharashtra, including Palghar, constitutional reservation for OBC, SC, NT, VJNT, SBC and all other non-tribal communities has fallen to zero in jobs across 17 cadres in Group C and Group D. The teacher cadre is one of these 17 and has also been affected.

Many agitations against this injustice have been held in Palghar district so far, and some are still continuing. Even so, the OBC, SC, NT, VJNT, SBC and other non-tribal communities have not yet got justice. Teacher recruitment is currently under way on a large scale in Maharashtra, including in Palghar, a PESA district. The contract teachers feel they are being passed over even though they are eligible for the jobs.