In an unprecedented move, the State Govt through the amendment of The Colleges & University Act 2012, passed at the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday, has conferred upon the PTTs, of the colleges & universities of the state, the greatest insult & humiliation, till date, with the declaration that henceforth the PTT s will no longer be called "Teachers" or "University Teachers". The teachers of colleges & universities who have till date been the very support system, the backbone of the Higher Education System, as a matter of fact, of the State, are suddenly declared "TEACHERS NO MORE". in this bill. The teachers who have created & moulded thousands of students across the state rendering unquestionable dedication to their service, for over a span of three to four decades, teachers who have walked miles on dusty paths to reach to distant remote colleges of the state, to impart education to students on a meagre remuneration of 125/- or 400/- a month & that also on an irregular basis, with several mouths in their homes to feed, teachers who have made incense sticks for all throughout the night to eek a marginal living, & have rushed to colleges again early morning, only because his dear students will be waiting for him eagerly in classrooms, teachers whose feet even their students who have become many State & Central Govt officials touch, to this very day, acknowledging the fact that had their teachers not been by their sides with compassion & care, they would not have attained such heights today....have suddenly been declared by that Govt who was believed to be fulfilling the unfulfilled dreams of millions of the State, as "TEACHERS NO MORE"!!!. Teachers who have created IAS & IPS, Doctors, Research Scholars, Athletes, Engineers & eminent personalities, for decades, who crown the country, in various fields are "TEACHERS NO MORE". These very teachers have created scholars who have spread all across the globe today & they from abroad have owed to their teachers for such a glorious rise in their lives. Had eminent scholars & gems like Dr. Radhakrishnan, been living to this day, he might have also felt ashamed to have been born of this land. Never before have such an insult been hurled at teachers, by any govt of the State. Pity, that the people of this state had brought about such a political change where the existence & honour of those very people who uphold the social & moral framework of any civilized society, is at stake. It is our appeal to all the teachers of the State, irrespective of their designation to raise their voices against this gross injustice, towards the PTTs. We also appeal to all the civilized people, across the globe, to feel the miserable state of College & University teachers, in the largest democracy of the world. Is this our reward, after giving our all for the betterment of the future of thousands of students, that we should be kicked & humiliated like stray dogs in streets, by whosoever gaining political power? Will this humiliating experiment with the PTTs by any govt in power, never come to an end? Will these hapless teachers never see the clear light of day? In a welfare state where teachers are thus trampled under the feet, of the govt, the question obviously arises, will the govt be able to answer to the future generation for what it does today? Time will only tell.
Elora Biswas & Haripada Pradhan
