The trigger was the 20 per cent aid that the government released to unaided schools which has not yet reached them.
Nearly 1,200 teachers from the Maharashtra State Unaided Schools Kruti Samitee (MSUSKS) are protesting at the Azad maidan since Monday demanding 100 per cent aid from the government for all unaided regional schools to stop them from shutting down.
In a bid to intesify their protests some teachers shaved their heads on Tuesday. The trigger was the 20 per cent aid that the government released to unaided schools which has not yet reached them.
Prashant Redij, Spokesperson, Mumbai Schools Principals Association, said, "Our first demand is to get 100 per cent aid for all regional language schools. Our second demand is that the government should at least start aid for those whom they have already declared eligible for 20 per cent aid. This will help schools to at least pay good salaries to teaching and non-teaching staff. Through this, schools that are on verge of shutting will not shut."
In addition to the teachers of unaided schools, there were also teachers of 1,628 schools that were eligible for 40 per cent to 60 per cent aid and were protesting to get the aid since 2016 from the government . The government had awarded only partial relief so far. That aid was given to 1,628 schools in which 19,247 teachers were benefitted. However, the benefit was miniscule as the salaries of non-teaching and teaching staff increased barely from Rs 4,000 per month to Rs 8,000 per month.
Redij added, " Even pizza delivery boys are earning more than our teaching and non teaching staff in schools."
Echoing sentiments of Redij, another teacher, President of MSUSKS, Sanjay Daware, said, " Even the aid delivered in 2016 didn't reach all schools. We were promised that as soon as funds will come the government will declare aid to all the eligible schools. But there seems to be no sign of declaring any aid by government. Hence we are on the streets to protest."
SAVE REGIONAL LANGUAGE SCHOOLS
- Nearly 1,200 teachers from the Maharashtra State Unaided Schools Kruti Samitee are protesting at the Azad maidan since Monday
- In a bid to intensify their protests, some teachers shaved their heads on Tuesday
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