Five teachers consume ‘poison’ outside WB education dept over ‘transfer issue’

On Tuesday, five female contractual teachers of primary schools allegedly consumed poison while demonstrating before the state education department headquarters here seeking immediate fulfillment of their job-related demands, a senior police officer said.

The officer further added that four of them “drank some liquid from bottles” as soon as they were arrested for forcefully entering the premises of Bikash Bhavan and shouting slogans in violation of the disaster management act.

“All five were taken to a state-run hospital, where the condition of four was stated to be serious. The fifth woman is out of danger,” the officer stated.

Five teachers of Sishu Sikha Kendra (SSK ) and Madhoymik Sikha Kendra (MSK)were transferred in an unethical manner. Teacher Oikyamancha took to the streets demanding opacity of transfer. After that, five people publicly gulped poison down their throats. In the meantime, the teachers expressed their anger against the government. She alleged that there was no reason to transfer teachers to places that are from their homes, and yet the government is doing this.

The five teachers had earlier this month demonstrated before the residence of education minister Bratya Basu seeking to know why their demands were not being met with.

Allegedly, Fazila, a teacher from Bhagwangola in Murshidabad, has been transferred to South Dinajpur. Another teacher from Murshidabad has been transferred to Jalpaiguri. A teacher named Jyotsna Tudu has been transferred from Medinipur to Jalpaiguri. Shikha Das has been transferred from East Midnapore to South Dinajpur. A teacher named Putul Mandal has been transferred from South 24 Parganas to Kechabihar. The teachers’ union is claiming that this transfer of professional teachers is unnecessary and somewhat unethical.

The agitating teachers asserted that it cannot go on like this. The teachers, during the protests, also demanded the resignation of the Education Minister.

“We are being paid very less wages, and to work far from home under such stringent circumstances is impossible,” said a teacher. “We are being burdened by unnecessary things,” the teacher added.

The agitating teachers, all members of a platform for contractual school teachers, ‘Sikshak Oikyo Manch’, had been seeking regularisation of services and revocation of transfer orders that have forced some of them to move to places that are far from their homes.

The five teachers had earlier this month demonstrated before the residence of education minister Bratya Basu seeking to know why their demands were not being met with.

Meanwhile, the education minister and his department officials were not available for comment, PTI reported.