Several teachers fall ill as hunger strike enters fifth day

Srinagar : The indefinite hunger strike of Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyaan (SSA) teachers under the banner of Teachers Joint Action Committee (TJAC) entered in fifth day at Pratap Park here.
Thousands of teachers are continuously participating in solidarity with the teachers in hunger strike at Srinagar as well as in Jammu and are protesting for their genuine rights that too for their salary of 7th pay commission and linking of their salaries with state sector.
The large number of teachers along with the teachers on hunger strike offered Friday c congregational prayers at Pratap park Srinagar and prayed for the well being of teachers who are on hunger strike and redressal of their genuine issues.
Talking to media persons, TJAC chairman, Abdul Qayoom Wani asked the government not to test the patience of teaching community anymore and said that teachers have decided to give any sacrifice for their legitimate rights.
Wani hailed the teaching community of Jammu and Kashmir for having full faith on TJAC leadership and are showing solidarity continuously with the teachers on hunger strike.
He said that besides tremendous pressure from the teaching community for complete lockout of the schools, TJAC leadership is committed enough towards their responsibility with society in general and student community in particular.
Wani said that “TJAC is exploring other options of protest to press for our demands so that academics of our students may not get effected but at the same time Wani warned that if government will treat our sincerity as our weakness then TJAC will be compelled to opt this last option after proper consultation with parents and civil society and responsibilities shall lie on the shoulders of the Govt.”
He said that the teaching fraternity is also ready to come on roads with their families if their genuine demands are not r dressed at an earliest.
Wani said that TJAC is holding an important press conference at Pratap park on Monday in which another programme will be announced besides continuous indefinite chain hunger strike which will shake the people at helm of affairs.
He warned the officers to stop issuing threatening circulars to pressurize the teaching community instead of resolving their genuine issues. He demanded immediate stoppage of these arbitrary orders otherwise these circulars will prove counter-productive for the administration.
Wani appealed Governor of the state Satpal Pal Malik, Advisors Khurshid Ahmad Ganaie and B.B.Viyas, Chief secretary B.V.R.Subramaniyum and Secretary education Rigzin Sampheal for their personal intervention in implementation of 7ty pay commission in favour of SSA teachers, head teachers and RMSA masters and head masters at an earliest so that teaching fraternity will prefer to be in the classrooms instead of hitting the roads.