Education Department asks protesting part-time employees to join duty from Monday

Port Blair, Mar 03: The Education Department of Andaman and Nicobar Administration has directed all the sacked part-time employees of the department to report to duty on Monday, after 80 of them staged protest infront of Raj Niwas yesterday.

Part time workers including teachers, craft instructors, peons, watchmen and safaiwalas, who had served in the education department of A&N Islands for more than 15 years, some of them 20 years, were removed from service recently as their qualification was lower than desired level, as per new Recruitment Rules.

Fuming part-time employees, headed by the Member of Parliament, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, yesterday staged protest infront of Raj Niwas and demanded to revoke all the employees immediately.

“The new Recruitment Rules mention qualifications, which most of these part time workers serving the department for around 20 years, do not possess. There are ladies and widows in the age group of 50-55 years who have been serving as Aayas with a qualification of 8th Pass. But the new RR mentions the need for a 10th Pass if they wished to continue their service as part time in the department. Is this possible? Is this justice?” questions the Member of Parliament while addressing a press conference at MP office yesterday evening.

“Even if I clear class X in my age, how can I compete with others in next interview with young children,” Sarojini an old lady, who worked as Aaya for nearly 22 years in government school told ‘Andaman Sheekha’. Later the Director of Education met the protesting staffs and asked them to report to duty from Monday.

“I have been directed by my superiors to convey all of you to report to duty from Monday in your respective schools,” Mr. R Devdass the Director of Andaman’s Education Department told the protesting employees. However, he refused to comment anything on the demand to regularize their services. “I thank Administration and Lt. Governor for asking them to report to duty again. However, we will continue our fight for regularization of all part time employees’ services,” the MP added.