Mumbai's junior college teachers to go on hunger strike; threaten not to correct HSC answer papers

The Mumbai Junior College Teachers' Union (MJCTU) has threatened to go on a hunger strike on March 26 if the government does not meet their demands. If the government does not relent, they will withhold corrected HSC answer and mark sheets.

"The demands that need the finance minister's attention are yet to be fulfilled," said Anil Deshmukh, general secretary of MJCTU. "Three meetings took place after we ended the boycott of paper correction, but nothing fructified.

Paper correction will not be stopped, but if HSC results are delayed (as a result of the teachers' protest), the Finance minister is responsible for it."

The union had decided to boycott HSC board's oral and practical examinations, giving the state government a deadline of February 20. This was withdrawn on March 5, after the government assurance. The demands include a pension scheme for teachers who joined after 1 November 2005 and aid for teachers working in unaided institutions.