Khargone Students and Parents Stage Unprecedented March for Teacher's Return
In a remarkable demonstration of community solidarity, more than 200 students from Classes 1 to 5, accompanied by their determined parents, organized a foot march in Khargone district on Wednesday. The collective action successfully pressured district authorities to promise the reinstatement of their mathematics teacher, who had been recently transferred to another school.
The Determined March from Segaon Town
The protest originated at the government Sandipani School in Segaon town, where students and guardians gathered with a clear objective: to meet district collector Bhavya Mittal and demand the return of their beloved teacher. The procession began around 11 am, with participants planning to cover the substantial 35-kilometre distance to the collector's office in Khargone.
As the march progressed through local streets, creating a striking visual of young students in their school uniforms walking along dusty roads, local officials attempted to persuade the protesters to halt. However, the group remained resolute in their mission. "We decided to march up to Khargone to meet the collector and bring back the labourious teacher," explained Swati Agrawal, one of the participating guardians.
Community Concerns Over Teacher Transfer
The protest centered on the transfer of mathematics teacher Natwar Patidar, who had been recently attached to a primary school in Dashnawal village. Parents expressed deep concerns about how this move would affect their children's education.
"Due to the efforts of Natwar Patidar, the number of students increased from 54 to 246, but instead of being encouraged for this achievement, he was removed," stated guardian Nanuram Yadav, highlighting the teacher's positive impact on the school.
Several other parents, including Kamal Chauhan, Amit Yadav, and Sumit Verma, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that Patidar provided quality education that significantly benefited their children. The protest gained additional urgency as parents threatened to obtain mass transfer certificates for their children if the teacher wasn't reinstated.
Official Intervention and Resolution
After approximately 3 kilometres of marching from their school, deputy collector Anil Jain intercepted the procession. Following extensive discussions with parents and students, and a telephonic conversation with collector Mittal, Jain provided the assurance the protesters sought.
The deputy collector promised that steps would be taken to bring back teacher Natwar Patidar at the earliest possible opportunity. Satisfied with this commitment, the parents agreed to withdraw their march after submitting a formal memorandum to the authorities.
District Collector's Explanation and Assurance
District collector Bhavya Mittal provided context for the original transfer decision, explaining to media that "two teachers were removed from their posts due to internal strife that was adversely affecting the academic environment of the institution."
Mittal clarified that the action wasn't taken because of any wrongdoing by Patidar specifically, but rather due to frequent disputes between two teachers that disrupted the school's normal functioning. She acknowledged Patidar's positive contributions, noting that "the school clarified that the concerned teacher has a positive academic record and was actively helping students prepare for examinations, including external exams."
The collector confirmed that arrangements would be made to restore Natwar Patidar to his position soon, bringing resolution to the community's concerns and ending the unusual student-led protest that captured local attention.
