Srinagar – With their hunger strike entering the seventh day on Sunday, protesting Rahbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers continue to be ignored by the government, with no official or political leader bothering to hear their painful story.
The teachers are picketing in central Srinagar, reminding the government of what they say is its promise of making their employment permanent after five years of service as ReTs.
Nearly a dozen of the protestors had to be removed to hospital earlier this week when their condition deteriorated due to going without food and water for long periods.
We have been left helpless and hopeless by the government, said one striker. In 2003, when we joined the education department, we had been plied with promises and assurances. But nine years have passed since, and not a single promise had been kept.
The teachers had been working on a paltry sum of Rs 1000 per month for years, and this was increased to Rs 1500 in 2008 as they were temporarily elevated as Rahbar-e-Taleem.
(Observer News Service)
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