Pic: Anush Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (AP/EP)
Mangaluru, May 30: Aloysius D'Souza, a headmaster who is contesting as an independent in the Karnataka Legislative Council election from south west teachers' constituency has urged voters to elect a teacher from the teachers' constituency who would look into the problems facing the education sector. There are seven teachers' constituencies in the state. The south west teachers' constituency among them includes Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Kodagu, Chennagiri and Honnali taluks of Davanagere districts.
Aloysius D'Souza said that there are several confusions and problems in the educational sector from primary school level to college and university level. "The main reason is the policy of governments that come to power and the elections of those who are not teachers," he said, addressing a press meet here on Wednesday May 30.
"The candidates from the teachers' constituencies should be teachers and should have served for at least three years. But those who are not teachers have contested elections here, thus discrediting the importance of the constituency. As our stand is that teachers should be elected from teachers' constituencies, I am contesting as a teacher. Political parties should not be involved in it," he said.
"Legislative Council is the upper house and should consist of experienced representatives. I have 33 years of teaching experience. I am serving as the headmaster of aided Rosario High School, Mangaluru. I am also the president of the association of headmasters. I mingle with teachers from aided and unaided schools and I am aware of the problems faced by them.
"I am also experienced in the cooperative sector and have been involved in Mangaluru Cooperative Credit Society for the last thirteen years. I have been serving as the president of the Society for the last three years," he added.
"I have visited all the other five districts and the two taluks of another district, but I could not reach all the 20,000 voters. I have ensured that my handbills have reached all. Therefore, I request intelligent voters to support me.
"I am aware of the problems of the teachers from primary school to postgraduate level as I have been a teacher for the last 33 years. I will sincerely work to solve problems regarding the ratio of teachers and students, NPS after 2008, special allowance, differences in salaries at different levels, transfer and promotion, problems of teachers in pre-university colleges, engineering, technical and medical colleges and facilities that should be available to them. I would like to represent teachers and lecturers.
"More than twenty thousand voters have registered in the teacher's constituency for the first time. I request all the voters to exercise their franchise on June 8 between 8 am and 4 pm," he urged.
The biennial elections to three teachers' and three graduates' constituencies to the Legislative Council will be held on June 8. As per the poll schedule issued by the Election Commission, a notification was issued on May 15, the counting day for assembly polls. Polling will take place from 8 am to 4 pm on June 8 while the votes will be counted on June 12.