PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Rajkiya Shikshak Sangh (RSS) in Uttarakhand has objected to the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission’s (UKPSC) recent notification for the direct recruitment of principals, despite chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s past assurance to address their concerns.
The RSS has been demanding 100 per cent promotion for existing teachers and the cancellation of direct recruitment for principal positions since many times. Regarding this, RSS has recently staged a protest and march toward the CM residence and subsequently met with him. The CM instructed officials to arrange a meeting with RSS representatives to discuss their demands. However, the recent UKPSC’s notification has intensified tensions and raised questions about the government’s commitment to resolving the issue.
According to RSS officials, the UKPSC’s recent notification has unfortunately incited a movement among teachers, despite the CM’s assurances. To advocate for the cancellation of the direct recruitment exam, the RSS has organised an emergency meeting on Wednesday to formulate a strategy. They anticipate that a meeting with the CM regarding their demands is scheduled for Monday. However, if this meeting does not yield a positive outcome, they plan to escalate their actions. A massive rally is planned in Srinagar and Nainital after September 25, followed by a sit-in at the Education minister’s residence in Dehradun, which will involve teachers from across the State.
Further, the RSS officials emphasised that if the government continues to overlook teachers’ concerns, they may resort to drastic measures, including self-immolation. They have also decided that starting on September 25, every RSS member will send postcards detailing their demands, written in their blood to the Prime Minister.
In addition, a collective decision was made for teachers to boycott the Education minister’s programmes wherever he visits, hold sit-in protests to press their demands, inform all local MLAs about their concerns and write letters to the CM. The RSS urged all teachers in Uttarakhand who have not yet resigned from their positions to do so immediately and withdraw from the Block Education Officer’s (BLO) group. They should refrain from transmitting any information from their schools, including mid-day meal data, attendance, or other tasks; only teaching responsibilities should be performed.
Notably, the UKPSCs issued a similar recruitment notification for principals last year in March, which was ultimately canceled due to protests from teachers. This year, they have issued a similar notification for 625 principal positions in Government Inter Colleges (GIC)-general and 68 positions for Government Girls Inter Colleges (GGIC).
