CM,deputy to teach striking teachers a lesson

CM Prithviraj Chavan and dy CM Ajit Pawar have decided to teach striking non-NET-CET teachers a lesson for holding students hostage during exam period.

CM Prithviraj Chavan and dy CM Ajit Pawar have decided to teach striking non-NET-CET teachers a lesson for holding students hostage during exam period.The government believes the 2,800 teachers cannot dictate terms. If necessary,it will invoke Essential Services Management Act.

Highly placed sources said Chavan and Ajit were,however,willing to consider major demands of the teachers,including payment of Rs 1,500-crore arrears. Dy CM and finance minister Ajit said,In this budget,I will make provision for Rs 500 crore. In the monsoon and winter sessions,I will release the remaining Rs 1,000 crore.

The decision to pay the arrears was taken following a directive from NCP president and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar who held discussions with Chavan and Ajit a couple of days ago.

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The issue was also discussed in the core cabinet committee. Minister for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope said the government should end the deadlock at the earliest as the strike was creating confusion and tension among students.

However,Chavan is firm on not conceding unreasonable demands. A senior official in CMO said,Chavan got support from Ajit Pawar on this.

At the core cabinet committee meeting,the government dug out records to understand how its predecessors dealt with similar situations. The non-NET-CET issue has been frequently rearing its head in the past 10 years.

In 2007-08,the government threatened to dismiss the teachers. Chavan said,At least they (striking teachers) should realise their jobs are secure and we are not taking a harsh position.

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