SSA teachers begin indefinite hunger strike for 7th pay commission implementation

Srinagar : The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) on Monday began their indefinite hunger strike to press the government over their demands including implementation of 7th pay commission in favour of SSA, RMSA teachers and masters and delinking of their salaries from MHRD to state sector. Meanwhile Advisor to Governor Khursheed Ahmad Ganai has appealed teachers not to resort to extreme measures like huger strike and wait till the committee headed by Principal Secretary Finance submits it report with recommendations.
Dozens of SSA teachers headed by Teachers Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman, Abdul Qayoom Wani assembled at Pratap Park here and begun its already announced indefinite hunger strike in which all the state and provincial level leaders participated in first phase.
The SSA teachers said that the indefinite hunger strike has begun to register the protest against the ‘step-motherly’ attitude of Govt against nation builders who are protesting since months together for the redressal of their genuine issues.
All the leaders of TJAC unanimously urged upon the govt to redress the issues of teachers and masters as early as possible.
Speaking on the occasion, Wani said that “the government is forcing us to come on roads to press for our demands.”
Wani said that implementation of 7th pay commission is legal right of teachers and masters working under SSA and RMSA. He said that the govt has deprived these teachers and masters from 7th pay commission, which is total injustice with the teachers and masters working under SSA and RMSA.
“Teachers Joint Action Committee is in continuous struggle from last four months and nothing concrete has come out from govt side except hallow promises that’s the reason that teachers joint action was forced to announce indefinite hunger strike and our struggle will continue till the issues are redressed,” Wani said.
Wani warned the govt of serious consequences if any of the participants gets harmed during hunger strike. Wani also hailed the courage and determination of all the participants of hunger strike, saying that “we will not let our teachers down and will not compromise with the honour and dignity of our teachers.”
He urged upon Governor of the state Satya Pal Malik, Khurshid Ahmad Ganaie, B B Vyas, Advisors to the Governor, Chief Secretary B.V.R Subramaniyum and Secretary Education Rigzin Sampheal for their personal intervention in implementing 7th pay commission in favour of SSA, RMSA teachers and masters and delinking of their salaries so that these teachers and masters will spend their sweat and blood for shaping the future of students enrolled in the schools.
Meanwhile Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, who is also in-charge of Education Department, Monday made an appeal to the teachers to not to resort to extreme measures like hunger strikes as the Government has already constituted a Committee headed by Principal Secretary Finance to look into the grievances of teachers, in particular the SSA Teachers.
The Advisor said despite budgetary constraints, the State Government is earnestly looking for a sustainable solution to the genuine demands of the teachers. He also said teachers are among the most valuable assets of the society and their welfare is uppermost priority of the Government. He further said due to the combined efforts of the government and the teachers, school education has reached the nook and corner of the state and children from all sections of the society were getting enrolled in the schools. He said there is demand for quality education and therefore we need to redouble our efforts.
Ganai further appealed to the teachers to attend to their duties so that the day-to-day functioning of the schools especially the classwork and education of students does not suffer.