Pics: Umesh Marpalli/ Justin D’Silva

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Jul 9: Primary school teachers of the district on Tuesday July 9 boycotted their schools for half a day and protested at Rajathadri DC Office Manipal near here against the state government urging to fulfill their various demands.

Addressing the protesters, Ravindra Hegde, President, Karnataka state primary teachers association (R ), Udupi division said, “We have been teaching since many years. It is our plight that has made us hold this protest. We have already demanded the government to resolve various issues faced by primary teachers of Karnataka. Our main issue is with the government’s official order, which restricts graduate primary teachers from teaching students of grade I to grade 5 only. On the contrary, we are appointed as teachers for grade 1 to 7. Due to this order, the government has created a new group of teachers for classes 6 to 8.”

The protesters also demanded transfers, which have not been done in the last three years. “We demand the government also to continue the old pension scheme rather than new pension scheme, as there are many loopholes in the new pension scheme. To upgrade our schools, we demand the government to start LKG and UKG sections in all primary schools across the state,” added Ravindra.

The protestors also warned the government that if the demands of the primary school teachers are not fulfilled, all the primary school teachers of the state participate in the ‘Vidhanasoudha Chalo’ movement on September 5, Teacher’s Day.

The state-wide protest was called for by the Karnataka state primary school teachers association (R ) Bengaluru. More than 1,000 primary school teachers boycotted the school and participated in the protest.

Protestors submitted their appeal to the government through DDPI Sheshashayana.

Prakash B B, Chief secretary Udupi district, Ravindra Hegde, President, Sakaram Shetty, President Kundapur zone, Vishwanath Poojary, Byndoor zone, Krishna Moily, Karkala zone, Mangala Shetty, Udupi zone, Dinakar Shetty, Brahmavara zone, Surappa Hegde, President Headmasters’ association, Sundar Mastar, President SC/ST district association and Ravi S Poojary, President, Graduate teachers forum were present during the occasion.