Jharkhand School Contract Workers and Exam Aspirants Stage Protests
In a significant demonstration of discontent, contractual employees from government schools across Jharkhand, along with aspirants for the Jharkhand Teachers Eligibility Test (JTET), organized protests outside the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha in Dhurwa on Monday. The gatherings aimed to voice demands for improved compensation and the timely conduct of long-pending examinations.
Demands for Better Pay and Benefits
Hundreds of rasoiyas (cooks) and sanyojikas (coordinators) assembled under the banner of the Jharkhand Pradesh Vidyalaya Rasoiyas, Sanyojikas Adhyaksh Sangh. They called for an increase in minimum wages, with rasoiyas currently earning only Rs 100 per day, while sanyojikas and adhyaksh (presidents) work without any remuneration. Additionally, the protesters sought honorarium for sanyojikas equivalent to that of sahayikas (helpers) and inclusion in pension schemes.
Ajit Prajapati, president of the Sangh, emphasized the financial struggles, stating, "The rasoiyas are working for Rs 100 per day while sanyojikas and adhyaksh were working for free." Anita Devi Kesri, another leader, questioned the government's priorities, noting, "The state govt is providing aid of Rs 2,500 under Maiyyan Samman Yojna. Are we not mothers and sisters that govt is ignoring our demands? We would continue our agitation till the demands are met."
JTET Aspirants Seek Exam Conduct
In a separate but related protest, a group of JTET aspirants rallied to demand the immediate conduct of the examination, which has been pending since 2016. They shouted slogans highlighting the delay and its impact on their career prospects, adding to the day's chorus of grievances.
Protest Details and Government Response
The participants, including school staff and exam candidates, sat on the road near the Jagannath Temple throughout the day, vocally supporting their causes. The protests underscore ongoing issues in Jharkhand's education sector, particularly concerning fair wages for contractual workers and administrative delays in critical examinations. As of now, there has been no official response from the state government regarding these demands.
