Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 4: The teachers posted to a workshop on positive thinking here, resorted to flash protest on Friday September 3, angered at the way they are being treated at the centre. These primary school teachers, posted for residential training programme on positive thinking here, were angered at the poor facilities and shortage of food. They also raised slogans against the treatment meted out to them.

The three-day residential training programme had begun on Thursday. On the first day too there was a shortage of lunch and break fast. Reportedly, some trainees went to bed with empty stomachs. They however, got agitated when on the second too, many of them did not get their breakfast. About half of them were compelled to attend classes without food. The teachers complained of shortage of food and stale curry. The protestors said that they had no other go but to resort to agitation, taking into account food shortage, substandard food, and stinking toilets.

Reportedly, the toilets were not cleaned, there were no buckets in the toilets, and water supply was faulty. They felt that the district institute of education and training (DIET) should have taken advance measures to provide facilities, considering the fact that so many teachers were posted for the training together. Several of the teachers were aged above 50, and they were the worst hit.

The teachers criticized the management for trying to teach them about positive thinking, when they are not able to upkeep their premises properly. A couple of teachers said that the staff of the resource centre comment about every drawback they find during their visits to the schools, and when their own turn comes, they falter miserably.

DIET principal, Philomena Lobo, and district deputy director of public instruction, Chame Gowda, met the protestors and promised them to set right the things. Once the protest was withdrawn based on this promise, the toilets and the centre’s premises were got cleaned. “Although some shortage of food was found during the lunch on Friday, arrangements were made to order more food. However, the quality of food was not up to the mark,” a few teachers said thereafter.