SSC Teachers: The state is once again engulfed in protests concerning the plight of the education system and job aspirants. The recent death of Probin Karmakar, a school teacher from Murshidabad who had lost his job, has created an atmosphere of grief and anger. In protest against this tragic incident and to press for their demands, retrenched teachers, educators, and non-teaching staff have called for a massive protest march from Sealdah to Nabanna (the state secretariat) on Friday, May 30th.
It is reported that the deceased teacher, Probin Karmakar, was suffering from kidney problems and was undergoing dialysis. While hospital sources cited a brain hemorrhage as the cause of his death, protesting teachers claim that the mental stress and anxiety of losing his job led to a stroke, ultimately causing his demise.
Following this incident, dismissed teachers from various parts of the state are seething with anger. They are strongly opposing the state government’s decision to conduct a second round of examinations. The protestors argue that they are victims of corruption and lost their jobs despite not making any compromises. Therefore, they demand reinstatement based on their merit and qualifications, instead of being forced to sit for another exam.
The protestors have announced that the march will commence from Sealdah station at 11 AM on Friday and proceed towards Nabanna. A notable aspect of this protest will be the teachers participating in a “semi-naked” state. According to them, government corruption and the indifference of the commission and board have left the state’s education system and deserving job seekers “naked.” Hence, they have chosen this unique form of protest.
Upon reaching Nabanna, they intend to meet the Chief Minister directly to convey their demands. Their primary demands include:
- Immediate reinstatement of deserving retrenched teachers without forcing them to sit for exams.
- A clear process for the honorable reinstatement of those who did not compromise with corruption.
The protestors have also expressed disagreement with the Chief Minister’s recent announcement of recruitment through new examinations and a review process. They believe that the review process should be prioritized, followed by other legal measures to reinstate eligible candidates. They further highlighted that, after nearly 10 years, it is incredibly challenging to mentally prepare for a competitive examination, especially when many have aged, are unwell (suffering from heart ailments, strokes), or are pregnant. They fear that holding exams under these circumstances would deprive many deserving candidates. The agitators have also warned of more stringent actions if the situation worsens and eligible individuals are not reinstated.
This incident has caused a stir across the state, raising fresh questions about the future of the education sector. All eyes are now on Friday’s protest march and the subsequent steps to be taken by the state government.
