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STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Slamming the education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya’s for his Tughlaqi attitude towards the PWD (Persons With Disabilities), the Pratibandi Suraksha Sangstha, Assam (PSSA) set a deadline for the education department to act as soon as possible.
Addressing the media in a press meet held at Guwahati Press Club on Friday, PSSA Secretary Nripen Malakar alleged that the education department doesn’t even care about the order passed by the Chief Minister, as the education department showed no interest to materialize the order of sending the details of vacant post in each departments of the state for the PWD to the Police Recruitment board.
Malakar said, “As per the information drawn from the education department, there are total 6629 posts in 21 districts of Assam that PWD should have been appointed for. But, the education department sent the details of only 105 posts to the recruitment board. After informing it to the Chief Minister in a meeting held on December 21, 2018, the education department was again asked to send the details to the Police recruitments Board. After negligence of the same, PSSA again sent a memorandum to Siddhartha Bhattacharya on February 25. Like the previous times, the memorandum couldn’t bring us a fruitful result, so, we staged protest on August 26 at Kahilipara. After that Commissioner Secretary of education department Pritam Saikia met us for a discussion and informed about the vacant post and assured us of appointment in different posts. Saikia told us that besides 142 posts for subject teacher in secondary education, a total 370 teacher posts are already ready, including 135 posts for third grade and 224 posts for fourth grade at High schools.”
Malakar further added, “During the meeting, we demanded that accurate details of the vacant posts to the Police Recruitment board and Commissioner Secretary assured us of conducting a special TET for the PWDs. He also assured PSSA that he will send the minutes of the discussion within September 5. As we have not received the same till today, we have doubts that the department is indulging in conspiracy against us.”
Speaking about not paying any concern to Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s announcement of relaxation of fees for applying to Grade III and Grade IV posts, Malakar said, “It’s not acceptable that the education department is asking rupees 300 from the PWD candidates, whereas the general candidates are asked to pay rupees 325 for applying to TET examination.” PSSA demanded the government to allow the PWD candidates to apply freely for TET and also asked for the letter of the meeting that was held on September 2 within September 18. Failing which, Pratibandi Suraksha Sangstha cautioned that they will be compelled to take any kind of actions and education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya will be directly responsible for it.