Port Blair, Nov 29: The South Andaman Teachers’ Branch of the Non-Gazetted Govt Officers’ Association had organized a Mass Demonstration yesterday (28/11/2019) in front of the Directorate of Education, Port Blair. The Teachers’ Branch organized the protest programme to highlight the present crisis faced by Govt. schools of the Islands and demanding settlement of various long pending demands of teaching community. Non-posting of Principals, Vice Principals and Head Masters, lack of infrastructure facilities including shortage of bench and desks, directionless approach by the department, etc were pointed out in the programme as reasons for the downfall of govt. schools.
At the outset of the demonstration, Mr. P.Jay Murthy, Vice President of the branch enlisted various long pending demands of teachers including Regularisation of Ad-hoc services from initial date of appointment, Timely promotion and confirmation of various categories, Revival of Teachers’ Welfare Fund, Settlement of Medical and Transfer TA claim, Grant of permission to teachers for acquiring higher education, etc. In his address Mr. T.S.Sreekumar, General Secretary of the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association said non posting of heads and teachers timely in govt. schools is a part a larger conspiracy to destroy govt. schools. He asked the administration of to formulate long-term plans for the revival of govt. schools. Mr. R.Surendran Pillai, Asst. General Secretary appealed the Department for immediate revival of Teachers welfare fund and settlement of pending Transfer TA and Medical bills. The Mass Demonstration was attended by a large number by teachers led by Mr. S.L.Vinjit, Secretary, SATB, Mr. R.Papa Rao, Mr. Biswanath Mandal, Mr. Sasi Kumar, Mr. Srinivasa Rao, Mr. Shyam Sundar, Mr. D.Swaraj etc.
