Hyderabad: Demanding at least half of the pay benefits that regular govt employees receive, protesting contractual Samagra Shiksha workers of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in Telangana stated that over 19,000 staffers will continue their strike until the govt concedes.
The situation escalated with workers taking to the streets across various districts, leading to a meeting between ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Seethakka, and the protestors on Monday.While the ministers assured to address non-financial demands such as leaves and perks, the workers remain firm on their primary demands of job regularisation or appropriate pay scales.
“If there are issues with regularising workers as govt employees, they should at least provide us basic pay,” said Dhundigal Yadagiri, state president of the Telangana Samagra Shiksha Udyogula Sangam (TSSUS).
“The govt claims the issue is in court, but when we asked about implementing a pay scale, they said they can’t address financial issues. We won’t back down until our demands are met.”
The strike affected approximately 1.3 lakh students, with some staging counter-protests due to staff absence. However, the workers maintain that the govt bears responsibility for the students’ situation, particularly with approaching examinations.
Anil Chary, TSSUS head for computer workers, expressed concerns about the lack of concrete solutions.
“While a committee has been formed, there’s no deadline for their report submission, and we haven’t received any written assurances,” he stated.
Responding to the situation, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar’s office issued a statement highlighting the broader context of the issue. The minister reportedly discussed the matter with Union minister Kishan Reddy, noting that 60% of the Sarva Shiksha Kasturba Gandhi Schools receive central govt funding, while the state contributes 40%.
“This isn’t just a Telangana-specific issue but a nationwide concern,” the statement read.
