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Malegaon:
Miffed by unfulfilled promises by the Municipal Corporation,
hundreds of teachers in Malegaon, who are denied their
salaries since last few months, have refused to cooperate with the
census work unless their pending salaries are cleared.
"Our salaries with the civic body
are due since last five months. Left with no money, most of us are
starving. Hence we have decided not to cooperate with the census
work unless our pending salaries are cleared", President of
Maharashtra Rajya Prathmik Shiksan Samiti Mohd Omar Qureshi while
speaking to ummid.com.
The teachers had earlier completed
the first phase of the census when it began in 2010. But, now due
to their pending salaries, they have refused to join the second
phase of census work slated to begin from February 06.
"Our salaries were due yet we
completed the first phase of the census work with utmost
perfection and sincerity. At that time also we were assured that the issue of our
salary would be sorted out. But till now the issue is pending",
President of Maharashtra Navnirman Shiksan Sena Qari Kahlil said.
The Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC),
which recruits 623 teachers in its 113 Urdu and Marathi schools,
last paid the salaries of August 2010. Since then the teachers
have not received any salary.
"False promises are made again and
again without addressing the issue. We were denied our salaries even at the time of Diwali
and Eid", he added.
"It has now become unbearable for us
to meet our regular expenses and most of us are starving. Under
this condition, it won't be possible for us to cooperate with the
census work", he said.
The decision is supported by all the
leading teachers' organistaions including Maharashtra Rajya
Prathmik Shikshan Sangh, Maharashtra Navnirman Shiksan Sena,
Maharashtra Rajya Prathmik Shiksan Samiti, Kul Hind Tanzeem Urdu
Asateza, Maharashtra Rajya Urdu Shikshak Sanghatna and is also
supported by the Pensioners' Association of Malegaon.
The pensioners that number over 800
have also not received their pensions since last three months.
Meanwhile, the Municipal
Commissioner Jeevan Sonawane is not worried and is hopeful that
the teachers would finally join the work.
"The issue of their salary is not
new whereas the census work is a national duty. I am sure the
teachers would reconsider their decision and would complete the
work in the stipulated time", he said while speaking to ummid.com.
"The Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) is financially not
too strong to bear the burden of 50% teachers' salary. We are
fighting with the government on the issue and are sure it would be
sorted out by March", the Commissioner said.
The delay in the Municipal teachers'
salary became a norm ever since Malegaon Municipal Council was
elevated to a corporation in 2001 and the State Government reduced
its grant from 80% to 50%. Till then, the state government was
responsible for 80% of the teachers' salary and the civic body was
paying the rest 20%. However, since 2001 when Malegaon became a
corporation, the state government reduced the grant to 50% and
citing poor financial condition, the MMC only shared 20% of the
teachers' salary.
In between, the matter even went to
the Supreme Court and High Court where the courts lamented both
the state government as well as the local administration and
ordered them to find a solution. Instead of finding a permanent
solution, the state government sanctioned a loan of first 13 crore
and later 11 crore rupees, using which the MMC released the
salaries of pending few months.
In the absence of a permanent
solution, the teachers never received their total salaries since
2001. Fed up of the delay, they have now decided to refuse joining
the second phase of the census work unless permanent solution is
found.
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