Suspended teachers' union leader on protest fast
Category :
City |
Posted Date :
02/08/2011
NAGPUR: A prominent teachers` union leader from the city started an indefinite hunger strike from Monday to get his job as a rural school principal back. Liladhar Thakre is the district head of Maharashtra Rajya Prathmik Shikshak Samiti (MRPSS) that has about 2,000 registered members in Nagpur alone.The trouble for Thakre started during the mandatory transfer process of Zilla Parishad (ZP) teachers in May. TOI had reported on May 21 how the meeting was marred by chaos that ultimately compelled the ZP president Suresh Bhoyar to order an inquiry. The report of this inquiry is still to come in.Thakre claimed during that meeting that the transfer process was not transparent and many teachers managed to get prime posting using their political or financial influence. He said, "In that meeting, officially we were told that only two posts are up for grabs in Nagpur but then 26 were completed. Then, along with MLC Nago Ganar (teacher constituency), I approached the CEO of ZP Anand Bharkade but he charged me with using political pressure."On June 4, Thakre along with four other teachers was issued a show-cause notice asking why they should not be suspended for bringing `political pressure". The ZP then went ahead and suspended Thakre on June 13 but surprisingly for a totally unconnected reason. "I was suspended for an incident that the ZP said happened last year. On October 5, I had gone for a training in Nagpur itself and the same day members of panchayat samiti visited my school and raised objections regarding hygiene. The ZP used that to suspend me which reeks of vendetta. MLC Ganar was elected from teachers` constituency and if I take his help in education-related matters, no one can say I am using political pressure," said Thakre.However, Barkhade rubbished all allegations and claimed that Thakre was unnecessarily trying to push a conspiracy angle into this. "There is no personal or political enmity involved. Inquiry against Thakre had been going on for some time and it is a pure coincidence that his suspension orders came during the time teacher transfers were going on. If he is not happy with our orders then he can always file an appeal. There is a system which has been put in place by the administration."Barkhade added that there were other inquiries going on against Thakre but no decision had been taken on them yet. However, with a couple of other teacher unions also lending their support to Thakre, the ZP wants to tread cautiously. Barkhade said, "We have not taken any action against any union or a group of unions. Our action is against an individual who has flouted norms. I do not understand why this is being called a conspiracy when it is just a matter of disciplinary action."Thakre said he would continue his fast until he was reinstated.
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