Chhattisgarh Teachers Protest for Job Security Amid Uncertain Future Following Terminations

Hundreds of assistant teachers in Chhattisgarh, whose services were terminated, have been protesting in Tuta village near Raipur for nearly a month. They are urging the government to reconsider its decision. These teachers, who hold Bachelor of Education (BEd) degrees, lost their jobs following a court order. Since December 19, they have been at the designated protest site, hoping to regain their positions and restore normalcy.

The Chhattisgarh High Court's decision on April 2, 2024, led to the termination of over 2,800 assistant teachers from primary schools. This action was based on a previous ruling by the Rajasthan High Court in 2021 that invalidated a National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) notification from 2018. The notification had allowed BEd degree holders to be eligible for primary schoolteacher positions, which were previously reserved for those with Diploma in Education (DEd) or Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).

Protesters Demand Reinstatement

Abhishek Chaturvedi, a protester from Bilaspur district, expressed his frustration: "Why is the state government playing with our lives? What is our fault? We got jobs on the basis of merit." Chaturvedi had left his job as a special educator under the Samgra Shiksha scheme to become an assistant teacher in Kanker district. However, his joy was short-lived due to the court's decision.

The Supreme Court upheld the Rajasthan High Court's ruling on August 11, 2023. It stated that BEd-qualified teachers appointed before this judgment would not be affected. Despite this, Chhattisgarh's government advertised vacant primary schoolteacher posts in May 2023 for both BEd and DEd candidates. Exams were conducted in June 2023, and appointments began in September.

Legal Challenges and Government Response

DEd-qualified candidates challenged these appointments in the Chhattisgarh High Court. On April 2 last year, the court declared BEd qualifications for assistant teacher posts illegal and nullified such appointments. In December last year, the court gave the government two weeks to comply with its order. Consequently, assistant teachers' services were terminated over two weeks.

On January 3, a committee led by the Chief Secretary was formed to address these teachers' demands. This includes considering their absorption into vacant education department posts. Chaturvedi argued that their appointments should have been protected as they applied based on government notifications and cleared exams before August 11, 2023.

Impact on Teachers' Lives

Chaturvedi highlighted similar cases in other states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh where governments protected BEd-qualified teachers. He questioned why Chhattisgarh's government ignored them. Many affected teachers had resigned from previous jobs or taken loans after securing these positions. There are over 50,000 vacant teaching posts in the state, and they demand absorption into these roles.

Gayantri Devi Minj, another protester from Jashpur district, shared her plight: "My husband and in-laws are farmers. Only I had a government job in the family." She left her contractual educator position for a permanent assistant teacher role but now protests with her two-year-old son. Minj pleaded for a solution so they can retain their jobs.

The situation remains tense as these teachers continue their protest amid uncertain futures. They hope for a resolution that will allow them to return to their teaching roles and secure their livelihoods once more.