Gadag 'school bandh' evokes total response

Hubli, Apr 9 (UNI) The 'school bandh' call given by the Karnataka State Primary Teachers Association in Gadag district evoked total response, today.

The primary school teachers also staged a protest at Gadag, demanding rigorous punishment to the accused in the suicide case of Venkatapur school teacher T Prema, who succumbed to burns at KIMS here yesterday.

Led by State Teachers Association President Basavaraj Gurikar, they also demanded abolition of School Development and Management Committees (SDMCs), contending that they have become centres for politicians, instead of development of schools.

Ms Prema had set herself ablaze on Wednesday last in front of the house of a SDMC member, who had allegedly harassed her, leaving behind a suicide note. She had succumbed to burns yesterday. The accused had been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Later, addressing a press conference in Gadag, Mr Gurikar said the Association would chalk out agitational programmes throughout the State, demanding abolition of SDMCs. The schools should be handed over to taluk or Zilla panchayats instead of SDMCs, he added.

The agitators also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

UNI