Bratya Basu: SSK, MSK teachers got benefits from state govt, so those agitating are “BJP cadres”

Five teachers admitted to hospital for "attempting to commit suicide".

West Bengal education minister Bratya Basu on Wednesday said that the Mamata Banerjee government has taken several measures to improve pay and other benefits for teachers of Shishu Shiksha Kendra (SSK) and Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra (MSK), and those who are agitating against the government despite getting these benefits are “not teachers, but BJP cadres”.

On Wednesday, Basu wrote on Facebook explaining the various steps taken by the present government for SSK and MSK teacher, who have been holding protest meets in the recent past over various demands. Yesterday, a group of agitating teachers threatened to commit suicide if the government did not take back the order of transferring them. Five of the agitating teachers consumed liquid from bottles – assumed to be “poison” – and were taken ill. They are currently undergoing treatment in two state-run hospitals of Kolkata. The protestors are part of the Shikshak Oikya Mancha, that has been organising these protests.

Basu mentioned in his post that the teachers of SSK and MSK used to be given token pay under the Left Front rule, and were under the panchayat and rural development department. They had no security nor post-retirement benefits, wrote the minister.

Under the Mamata Banerjee government, from December 1, 2020, the SSK and MSK teachers were brought under the education department. Also, their monthly pay was increased to Rs 13,390 with three per cent annual increment introduced. They have all been brought under the Swasthya Sathi scheme benefits, retirement benefits (after 60 years) of Rs 3 lakh, plus provident fund. They have also got maternity leave, and medical leave, casual leave.

The minister wrote that despite all these benefits those who are still holding protests and agitations are “not teachers, but BJP cadres”.

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