Teacher on strike dies of heart attack in Bilaspur

RAIPUR: On the eighth day of the indefinite strike of Shiksha Karmis, a teacher died in Bilaspur even as chief minister Raman Singh ruled out the possibility of absorbing them on regular posts in the education department. The teacher died of heart attack a day after zila panchayat cancelled transfer of 16 teachers under probation.
Thousands of teachers under panchayat bodies have been on an indefinite strike since November 20, demanding their merger in regular posts of state education department cadre and salary at par with them.
While zila panchayat CEO cancelled transfer of 16 probationary teachers, zila panchayat and district administration on Tuesday suspended six Shiksha Karmis. Those suspended include Gangasharan Pasi, Dharmendra Sharma, Bhanupratap Daharaiya, Tarachand Jaiswal. Ayush Pillai and Madanlal Dewangan from janpad panchayat were also suspended.
In response to the action being taken against striking teachers, the Shiksha Karmi association has decided to intensify the strike. The association members said that it has been decided that Shiksha Karmis from across the state would gather in state capital and take out a rally in protest. They have also decided to go on a hunger strike on Wednesday.

The teachers would take out the rally along with their families on December 2, while it was not clear if the hunger strike would be indefinite.
Earlier, the government had warned the teachers to return to work or else strict action would be taken against them. Moreover, teachers have been told that there is no possibility to absorb them as regular staff in education department.
The teachers have alleged that the deceased teacher Bhagwat Prasad Bhaina came under tremendous pressure and was shocked after learning about cancellation of transfers. He was posted at Godadih primary school at Masturi block in Bilaspur.