The Madhya Pradesh government today clamped down on agitating shikshakarmis—teachers appointed by local bodies—by arresting hundreds of them across the state and foiling their attempt to take out a protest rally here.About 80,000 teachers have been agitating for the last 25 days, seeking wage parity with state government-appointed teachers and other monetary benefits. Yesterday, the government had issued prohibitory orders and ordered police to keep an eye on railway and bus stations to prevent the teachers from entering Bhopal.Today, the administration did not allow even a token rally to be taken out even as Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Jamuna Devi courted arrest outside her house in support of the teachers—over 1,400 were held across the state, 800 of them in Bhopal alone. After she was released this evening, Devi submitted a memorandum to the Governor protesting against ‘‘police atrocities’’, alleging that they resorted to a lathicharge inside her bungalow.Commissioner of Public Education L S Baghel said the demand for wage parity would set the Government back by Rs 325-350 crore. He said the crackdown followed the refusal of shikshakarmis to postpone their rally. The Cabinet is expected to take a decision in the matter on Friday, he added.Divided into three categories, the shikshakarmis get a monthly salary of Rs 2,800, Rs 3,850 and Rs 4,350, respectively. After their last agitation, the government had hiked their Dearness Allowance, in effect increasing their salary from Rs 325 to Rs 500 per month.The shikshakarmis were appointed when the Congress was in power. The teachers have even defied a dismissal warning from the Babulal Gaur government—they were told to return to work from September 19. The CM has rejected their demand for wage parity. ‘‘Negotiations can be held only after they call off their strike and resume work,’’ he said.
