Games the govt Plays

The government’s justification, that it could not allow teachers to implement their threat to boycott assessment of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) answer-sheets in the interest of students, is patronising at best. But the message is as unambiguous as it is undemocratic, teachers say. The real reason, union leaders point out, is the government’s habitual inertia towards a fraternity which has never been perceived asa votebank. Hence, even with Assembly elections just a year away, the deficit-ridden Shiv Sena-led alliance government has nothing to lose by reneging on its promise to resolve their demands. Clearly, Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s assurance to break the impasse was only meant to defuse a potentially explosive agitation, teachers conclude.

“The government had sufficient time to resolve the dispute as we had sounded several warnings over five months ago. It was only when we refused to give in after our 41-day strike in December-January and then threatened to boycott assessment that the government realised we were dead serious,” a senior teacher says.

“Now, they are painting us as villains who are trying to jeopardise the careers of students. But didn’t they push us to the limit by their numerous promises? They cleverly led to believe they were serious about addressing our demands but in retrospect, they were simply buying time. Now, by declaring conduction of examination as an essential service, they aretrying to silence us,” she adds.

But that is not the only reason why teachers in Maharashtra, who have never before been brought under the MESMA, are smouldering. “Why has the government declared secondary school teachers as an essential service as well? They were never part of the junior college teachers’ agitation. They have merely put forward their own demands,” points out Ramakant Pandey, principal of Bansidhar Aggarwal High School and Junior College, Wadala.“The last time we resorted to an agitation during examinations was a decade ago. Since evaluation suffered considerably, we did not repeat that. Still we shall not allow the government to declare teaching or examination assessment as an essential service. We are almost through with the assessment. As soon as that is complete, we shall organise an agitation against MESMA and see that it is revoked. If need be, we shall move court,” vows Amar Singh, president of the Mumbai Junior College Teachers Union (MJCTU).Professor Ashok Modak, a graduate’srepresentative in the Legislative Council, feels a consistent dialogue would have broken the impasse. He says legal remedies do not always help. Modak is particularly angry that teachers’ and graduates’ representatives in the Legislature were not taken into confidence before a decision on placing them under MESMA was taken.Remarks a union leader: “The government says it does not have the money. Then why can’t they at least commit themselves on paper for now and pay us later, or at least offer a compromise package.”

Secretary of the Greater Mumbai Secondery Teachers’ Association, A P Sharma, told Express Newsline that the association will soon discuss the issue at a meeting along with the Mumbai and Suburban Secondary Teachers’ Association. Teachers point out that by no stretch of the imagination can assessment work be considered an essential service.

They maintain that the government has stifled their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression and to demonstrate (under Article 19 of theConstitution). Acknowledging that this is subject to reasonable restrictions, they point out that such curbs already exist under their service rules which provide for disciplinary action in cases where they step over the line.

Adds Professor C R Sadashivan, president of the Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (MFUCTO), “The government action is totally undemocratic. But it will not be successful.” Recalling last year’s nation-wide agitation, when degree college teachers were placed under the Essential Service Maintenance Act by the Haryana government, he pointed out that the authorities had to finally backtrack. “Now, teachers in Maharashtra are in the process of devising a plan of action,” warns Prof Sadashivan.

However, Minister of State for Education, Anil Deshmukh, feels otherwise. “Under the circumstances, teaching is an essential service. We have taken this measure in the best interest of the 22 lakh SSC and HSC students,” he told ExpressNewsline.

Still, teachers are determined not to let the government have the last word.

Sudeshna Chatterjee is a reporter with The Indian Express. She covers education