The treatment of guest teachers in Delhi is far superior to that of other states – Bhanu Priya
The Kejriwal government doubled the salary of guest teachers to 35 thousand, up from 14 to 16 thousand previously – Bhanu Priya
On 4 October 2017, the Kejriwal government passed a bill in the assembly to make guest teachers permanent; the file is currently with the Lieutenant Governor – Bhanu Priya
The salary of a Delhi guest teacher is significantly higher than that of a guest teacher from other states – Anjana Rathi
In Delhi, planted demonstrations are being carried out by people who are not even employed and are only interested in politics- Anjana Rathi
People from Punjab, such as Navjot Singh Sidhu, come to Delhi to do politics, while their guest teachers are on the verge of committing suicide- Anjana Rathi
Navjot Singh Sidhu is wrong to use teachers in his politics; the working conditions of guest teachers in the state to which he belongs are deplorable – Pooja Jha
The parties protesting in Delhi today should be aware that their government did nothing for the guest teachers when they were in power- Bhanu Priya
Old governments used to pay much less to guest teachers, and even maternity leave was not available; a form had to be filled out every year; they should not forget their history – Bhanu Priya
NEW DELHI:
The Dilli Atithi Shikshak Sangh today exposed the lies being spread by political parties for electoral gains. According to Bhanu Priya, office bearer of the Dilli Atithi Shikshak Sangh, the condition of guest teachers in Delhi is far superior to that of other states. She informed that the Kejriwal government has increased the salary of guest teachers to Rs 35,000. Previously, the maximum salary ranged from 14 to 16 thousand.She added that on October 4, 2017, the Kejriwal government had passed a bill in the assembly to make guest teachers permanent; and the file is currently with the Lieutenant Governor. She said that when their government was in power, the parties protesting in Delhi today did nothing for the guest teacher. They used to pay much less, the guest teachers did not receive maternity leave, and had to fill out a form every year. According to Anjana Rathi, the salary of a Delhi guest teacher is significantly higher than that of a guest teacher from other states. She said that protests are being held in Delhi by people who are not even employed and are only interested in politics. She added that politicians from Punjab, such as Navjot Singh Sidhu, are flocking to Delhi while back there guest teachers are on the verge of committing suicide. Pooja Jha believes that Navjot Singh Sidhu is wrong to use teachers in his political campaign. She said that the state where he is from, the condition of the guest teachers is deplorable.
Today, the Dilli Atithi Shikshak Sangh addressed a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat. Bhanu Priya, who is leading the Dilli Atithi Shikshak Sangh delegation, stated, “Our organization has been working for a long time to further the interests of guest teachers. But before I talk more about us, I would like to talk about the schools in Delhi. I am indeed delighted and it is my good fortune that I am working in such schools where the education minister, Manish Sisodia, is there. The government schools in Delhi have improved so much, they value the guest teachers, unlike the schools in other states. There’s so much happening at the government schools in Delhi, like happiness, EMC, and the recently introduced Deshbhakti. Whatever we are doing right now is because the Kejriwal government has done a lot for us. If it hadn’t, we wouldn’t be here today. There was a time when we had to fill annual forms just to save our jobs at the schools we were teaching. This happened between 2010-15. we would fill forms, and merit lists would be prepared. We could teach one year, but the very next year, our names wouldn’t be on the list. We had the sword of getting laid off hanging constantly over our heads. The female teachers could still adjust somehow, but it was especially tough for the male teachers. Some time passed and the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power. That’s when our lives changed.”
She continued, “For the first time in 2016, we were meeting the Aam Aadmi Party government. We told them about this problem and asked for a solution. The results of these talks were successful, and we got the renewal provision. Even after that, there were more meetings and talks. Our problems got addressed in this simple way, through talks, and we didn’t have to make any extra efforts like going on a strike or protesting. We are teachers, explaining things is what we are the best at.”
She added, “After 2016, after we got renewed, things got smoother. But there were other problems. Our salaries at the time were very low; around 14-16 thousand, varying according to posts. We initiated talks on this issue and within 3 months, our salaries were increased. It got doubled. The maximum salary amount is now touching 35000. so in March 2016, our salaries were raised. Like everyone else, we too want secure lives. But because of this hassle of renewal, we were always at risk of losing our jobs. So we approached the government once again. After 2-3 months, on 4th October 2017, our bill was passed in the Vidhansabha and we were made to sit in the assembly so that we could see it being passed. Then the file was sent to the Lieutenant Governor. We knew that even getting this file passed there was a monumental task. It didn’t receive the Lieutenant governor’s assent. But the government didn’t give up. We asked them if there was any other way to get this done. A 58-year Regularisation Policy had been planned in Haryana. In our case, the file we had sent was for a permanent position and we’re told that we cannot be given permanent positions. So we decided to go for regularisation. There would be fewer perks, but this was more plausible. The government formulated a regularisation policy similar to Haryana’s. But ours was for 60 years. Both files are with the Governor now, but I am happy that our government is with us. I have complete faith that even if this file is not passed, the government will find a new way to solve this problem.”
Talking about maternity leaves, she said, “Earlier, the female teachers would be relieved of their duties, they would lose their jobs when the time came for them to take some days off. Only after this government came to power did we start getting maternity leaves. We then raised the issue that maternity leaves would not suffice alone, so they granted us the provision of paid maternity leaves. Just like any government teacher, we too get paid maternity leaves now and can shift the starting and ending dates for the leave according to our convenience.”
Addressing the subject of treatment of guest teachers, she states, “Earlier when we’d go to school, we felt that we weren’t respected. We were made to feel as if we didn’t know enough when our qualifications were the same as that of other teachers. It was only a matter of chance that the exams weren’t conducted or that we crossed the age limit. It was only because of the efforts made by the education minister Manish Sisodia and the Kejriwal government that we too are respected now. This was the first time that an education minister went on the ground to talk to us. Before this, the department had painted us the guest teachers who didn’t know this. The Kejriwal government gave us the chance to prove ourselves. They ran summer camps. These camps initially consisted mostly of guest teachers since our summer vacations were unpaid. But because of this initiative by the Kejriwal government, we were able to get paid even during the summer vacations. The students and guest teachers both stood to benefit. A relationship of trust began to develop between guest teachers and the principals of the schools and we were even made in charge of various things. What’s special here is that, when a teacher changes schools involuntarily, the relationship between the teacher and the students turns sour. Students take 2-3 months to gauge and acquaint themselves with the teacher and only after this is a bond formed. So if today the guest teachers can form this bond with their students, it is because of Manish sir.”
She continued, “For us, and because of us, the students are being called during the holidays. During the winter vacations, we can teach the classes appearing for the board exams and because of this, we get paid when we weren’t before. We have finally got the chance to prove our skills, earn a better salary and can run our households. When Congress was in power, we tried to reach out to the education minister multiple times. The minister said, ‘guest teachers? Who are they?’. So forget improving the situation in schools, they didn’t even know about our existence. Such was our condition. Before 2013, computer teachers used to be paid merely 6000 in salary. So they went to meet the government and request them for an increment. The congress government admonished them for constantly pesterings and protesting. They even threatened to discontinue the posts those teachers held, and they actually did. This is my own experience. Before becoming a guest teacher, I worked as a computer teacher for 2-3 years. I am extremely grateful that we now have an AAP government, that we have Manish Sisodiya Ji because of whom we are employed today and are able to run our households.”
Anjana, TGT Natural Science, said, “We have been meeting the Delhi Government regularly to get our issues addressed. However, recently, there have been protests by people claiming to be guest teachers. It’s clear that politicisation has begun. People like Sidhu are coming out, claiming to be to support the protesting teachers when the guest teachers in their states are committing suicide. In their state, the teachers had climbed onto a water tank, ready to lay their lives down because when one loses their job, they resort to extreme measures. Such people are coming here to trick us and our colleagues. It would be my humble request to such people that they stop this trickery and not malign the image of a teacher. When our problems are already being solved through dialogue with the government, there is absolutely no need for protests. The people who are protesting are those who don’t have jobs and are only interested in creating political turmoil.”
Bhanupriya added, “Protesting is not wrong. But the vile politicisation of a subject like education is completely unacceptable. Everyone must handle the issues of their state. In our state, our government has been acting according to our wishes and demands. We have often gone to the government collectively, but the situations for police intervention have never been created. Our government has been working for us peacefully.”
Anil, TGT English, said “We have been meeting with the education minister regularly and presenting our concerns. Even today, a while ago, we met him and discussed multiple issues. The major demand we have raised now is to increase our salaries, which haven’t been increased since 2016. We have also suffered the wrath of the pandemic. In this regard, we have received positive signs from Manish sir. He has assured us that he will work on the increase in salary at the earliest, and necessary action will be taken accordingly.”
Anjna added, “We have been assured of an increment and even currently, the salary of a guest teacher in Delhi is much higher than what the guest teachers in other states get”
Bhanupriya said, “Yes , as I had mentioned before, our salaries were doubled in 2016. Even after this, the government has not told us that any more increments would be given. They have assured us that all possible increments will be done at the earliest. Even last time, our salary was raised within 3 months of us raising concerns.”
Pooja Jha, TGT Sanskrit, said, “I am extremely grateful to Manish Sisodia Ji and the Kejriwal government, because every time we went to them with our concerns, they listened to us intently. We didn’t have to bend over backward or go for protests just to get the government to listen to us. They have assisted us to the best of their capabilities. The teachers must be satisfied, especially the guest teachers. During congress rule, we were paid our salaries based on the periods we taught. It was 20 rupees per period and we made just 600 rupees per day. This was the best-case scenario. If we took a day off or went home, we could make only 300 rupees on average. I’ve been a guest teacher since 2011, but since 2016, we have had no trouble being allocated to schools. This was a huge problem before. The AAP has also done many commendable things, like the Desh bhakti program and the summer camp. These things have not only benefited the students but the guest teachers too.”
She added, “Shri Manish Sisodia and the Kejriwal government have left no stone unturned in ensuring that guest teachers receive ample work so that they’re satisfied. Even the connection between guest teachers and students, which was horrible before since we’d get relieved the moment a permanent teacher arrived, has become better. It breaks my heart to see that our fellow teachers are out there protesting. We had never expected them to use their profession for political gains. Navjot Singh Sidhu’s arrival at the protest site, his attempts at maligning AAP, doesn’t look very good when the situation of teachers in their state is deplorable.”