Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Dec 11: “Our agenda is to restart the old pension scheme to the teaching staff. It was mentioned in our manifesto of state assembly election too,” said Congress candidate for teachers and graduates constituency K K Manjunath on Monday December 11 at Udupi press club.

In the press meet, Manjunath informed about what changes he wishes to bring in the present education and graduate constituency and other new policies. He said, “I am contesting for the third time. The election for teachers and graduates constituency has become a business, which is a huge humiliation to the teaching department. The pension scheme for teachers after retirement was started by the then Congress government, which was stopped by the then chief minister H D Kumar swami and deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa in 2006 under National Pension System. The government teaching staff receives minimum pension and aided private teaching staff does not get pension after retirement.”

He informed that 30 MLA areas are covered under the teachers and graduates constituency, 4000 voters have been enrolled in Udupi district and the election will take place in the 2nd week of June, 2024. The election for teachers and graduates will take place on the same day, where teachers will exercise two votes, he said.

He further said, “I was Madikeri district teachers’ association president, and government employees’ association president. I have worked for 17 years as a government mathematics teacher for high school students. I thank the Congress leaders for providing me an opportunity to contest the election.”

He requested to all the eligible voters to enrol and exercise their voting rights and to give maximum support.

Prakyath Shetty, district Congress vice president; Kushal Shetty, district president; Bhaskar Rao Kidiyoor, Congress leader; Bipin Chandrapal, Congress spokesperson and others were present.