Unhappy with Vinod Tawde meet, Junior college teachers to continue protest

The Mumbai Junior College Teachers' Union (MJCTU) affiliated to the Maharashtra State Federation of Junior College Teachers' Organisation (MSFJCTO) has decided to continue their hunger strike. The union met Education Minister Vinod Tawde on Tuesday and he agreed to accept only some of their demands. The union has decided not to send assessed HSC board answer sheets to state board until all their demands are met.

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 This was withdrawn on March 5, after government assurance. The demands include a pension scheme for teachers who joined after November 1, 2005, and provide aid to teachers working for unaided institutions.

In Tuesday's meeting, Tawde accepted their demand to release the salaries of 171 teachers who have been working 2003 onwards, soon. This apart, salaries for teachers working 2012 onwards was promised along with an approval of their post. Demands such as ICT aid, pensions, etc, remain to be accepted.

Anil Deshmukh, General Secretary, MJCTU, said, "We will not recall our protest unless all our demands are met. Even today, the Finance Minister didn't attend our meeting."