Contractual teachers in Nanded, Maharashtra, held a candlelight march on Tuesday evening to protest against the state government's failure to address their long-standing demands. The teachers, who have been working on a contractual basis for years, gathered at the local Shivaji Chowk and marched through the main streets of the city, holding candles and placards.
Key Demands of the Protest
The protesters are demanding the regularization of their services, equal pay for equal work, and the implementation of the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission. They also want the state government to resolve issues related to their pension and gratuity benefits.
Long-Standing Grievances
The contractual teachers have been raising these issues for several months. They have held multiple meetings with district officials and have also submitted memorandums to the state education department. However, they claim that no concrete action has been taken so far.
Speaking at the protest, one of the leaders said, "We have been waiting for years for our demands to be met. We are tired of empty promises. The government must take immediate steps to regularize our services and ensure we get the same benefits as permanent teachers."
Support from Teacher Unions
Several teacher unions and local organizations have extended their support to the protesting teachers. They have called upon the state government to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest.
The protest remained peaceful, and the participants dispersed after marching for about two hours. They have threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met within a stipulated time frame.
