Part Time Teachers are TEACHERS NO MORE

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

Stay away from Rumours

A small faction of PTTs led & motivated by a political party, has again started spreading confusing rumours about the fate of PTTs in the days to come. Our association strictly detests any such politically motivated game aiming at creating mass chaos & confusion among thousands of PTTs of the State, & requests all our members to stay away from such baseless rumours, in order to strengthen the unity of our association in the days to come. Whatever our association demands from the govt, is strictly keeping in mind the interest of all existing PTTs of the State, irrespective of age, qualification & experience of the teachers.

Elora Biswas & Haripada Pradhan

The procession of 5th Sept '12

PTTs from various districts assembled at Sealdah Station, despite extremely bad whether condition on 5th Sept. In the presence of assembled media persons, the procession led by Elora Biswas, started to move at 12.30 pm through B.B.Ganguly St, towards Fears Lane, near Lalbazar. The assembled teachers are heartily thanked by the association who've braved the bad weather, & made the rally a great success. The rally reached the appointed place peacefully, with teachers walking bare-footed, led by Mrs. Biswas, who held a pair of decorated shoes on a plate, in her hand, as an ideological symbol of suffering teachers, who abide by their duties & are humiliated in return. As the procession reached Fears Lane, Senior Kolkata Police officers along with those from the Detective Dept. Lalbazar, talked to Mrs. Biswas cordially, & after confirming from her, the scheduled appointment with the CM, they escorted Mrs. Biswas & Mr. Haripada Pradhan to CM's office at Writers' Building. Later, that day, Mrs. Biswas, reported that she had a long discussion at the CM'S office on the Govt's decision to make all PTTs appear at an examination/interview to re-establish their status. The association doesn't strictly confirm to the Govt's decision about the junior teachers & some other issues. Mrs Biswas added that the Govt has decided to place the bill on PTT issues at the Bidhan Sabha very soon; the very bill that probably plans to derogate all the PTTs of the State. However she also assured from her realization & experience that if we fight hand in hand, & provide a tough resistance, against any such arbitrary Govt decision, to degrade the PTTs of the State, the battle can surely be won. The tougher our resistance, the stronger the possibility of winning the dark battle against injustice.

Make it happen on 5th Sept,'12- A March of protest

On the 5th of Sept,'12(Wednesday) all our members across the state are requested to meet at Sealdah(Main)Station Enquiry at 10am, following which the assembled teachers will move through B.B Ganguly St & thereafter approach the Hon'able CM to present her a copy of our deputation. This is all in protest of the State Govt's decision to make all the existing PTTs of the State, go through a screening process of examination & interview, irrespective of their age, qualification & experience, in order to prove their eligibility for the posts in which they had been serving for so many years, at a stretch! Assemble in large numbers if you all think that your honour & prestige as a teacher is at stake. We fight to safeguard our professional & social rights as teachers. Fight unitedly on Teachers' Day, for the prestige of a teacher, denied to the college PT teachers of the State.