Teachers call off strike

BHOPAL: Agitating contractual teachers have on Saturday called off their protest against state government and decided to report on duties on Monday. It was also decided that teachers' union would submit its reply before MP high court on October 5 and thereafter plan a fresh strategy for protest.
Upendra Kaushal, state convenor Shasakiya Adhyapak Sangh said, "16 of our leaders are in jail.In wake of MP high court order that we should resume duty and students' welfare, we will resume work with immediate effect. Also, chief minister has appealed several times to end the strike. Hence, we are now giving state government 10 days' time to end the stalemate."
A day earlier, teachers took out a tricolour rally and staged protest near Lalghati-Bairagarh area and more than 1,200 teachers were arrested in the capital.
For last six days, teachers, who work under local civic bodies and panchayats, have been agitating and protesting over 12-point demands, including merger of contractual teachers in school education department and immediate payment of 6th Pay Commission dues.
On Wednesday, MPHC ordered striking teachers of government schools to resume duty. Teachers and contractual teachers of government schools are on strike from September 13.
The court issued show-cause notice to office-bearers of Azad Adhyapak Sangh, a body of teachers which has given a call for strike and sought its reply why the strike should not be called illegal.
Ratnesh Mishra, of Azad Adhyapak Sangh said to make up for lost time due to the strike, teachers will also teach students for an extra hour in the coming days. "We have only deferred our strike. We will however not be remain silent unless government accepts our demands," he said.
Meanwhile, 16 teachers who were arrested by police during the rally were released on Saturday.