Assam Teachers set August 15 deadline for regularization

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Sadou Asom Beton Bonchito Kormoroto Prathomik Shikshok Sanstha (SABBKPSS) has demanded of the State government to spell out by August 15, 2020 if their posts will be regularized.

In a statement issued to the media on Sunday, the Sanstha said, "We demand of the government to regularize our posts. Earlier we did set the deadline of August 10 for the government to make its decision on the regularization of our posts public. However, the statement made by Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a press meet on Saturday has poured cold waters on our hopes and aspirations regarding regularization of our jobs."

Central committee adviser of the Sanstha, Hemkanti Handique, said, "We've been agitating from long back in support of regularization of our posts. In 2018 we staged a fast-unto-death agitation in Lakhimpur and Sivasagar districts. Ministers Pramila Rani Brahma and Keshab Mahanta did meet us and assured us of meeting our demand within two months. However, the assurance was not kept."

Sanstha's working president Kushal Buragohain said, "A few days back, Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Nazira and assured us of solving our problem within two months. However, addressing the media on Saturday, the Minister sought one-and-a-half months more. This is ridiculous."

The general secretary of the Sanstha, Basanta Neog said, "Not being able solve our problem over the years is the failure of both the Congress and the BJP governments. The present Education Minister did hold the Education portfolio during the Congress regime as well. How could duly appointed teachers be tagged as additional teachers and make them languish without salaries over the years? We demand of the government to spell out its decision by August 15, failing which we'll be compelled to hold a convention to seek public opinion to start a series of agitation."