Teachers' protest: What can Mamata govt do next? I Discussion

In this episode of Capital Beat, panellists Samir K Purkayastha, Rajiv K Srivastava, and protesting teacher Moumita Sarkar dissect the ongoing turmoil in West Bengal's education sector. Following a Supreme Court verdict invalidating over 25,000 teaching and non-teaching appointments, the streets of Kolkata have erupted in anger and anguish. As elections near, the political ramifications for the Mamata Banerjee government could be significant.

Supreme Court fallout

The root of the crisis lies in a Supreme Court verdict that upheld a Calcutta High Court ruling cancelling 25,700 teaching and non-teaching appointments made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). The court cited widespread irregularities, including appointments to candidates who submitted blank OMR sheets, those placed lower in merit, and even those outside the final panel.

Also Read: SC annuls jobs of 25,000 Bengal school teachers, orders fresh hirings

Samir K Purkayastha explained, "The government failed to segregate genuine and tainted candidates. Both the CBI and the state couldn’t provide complete OMR records, forcing the court to cancel all appointments."

Impact on education

As a result of the ruling, thousands of schools now face a severe shortage of teachers.

Moumita Sarkar, who was among those terminated, said, "We are being asked to work voluntarily. But this is our livelihood, our bread and butter. How can we teach without a salary?"

She added that the teachers have been protesting continuously in front of the SSC office, demanding reinstatement or at least segregation of tainted and non-tainted staff. However, she claimed that meetings with the government were limited to select, politically-aligned teachers.

Government's response

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has publicly assured teachers that their jobs will be protected. But as Samir pointed out, there is no clarity on how the government plans to do so.

"They talk of a review petition or absorbing teachers as para teachers, but these are either unconfirmed or inadequate stopgaps," he said.

Also Read: Teachers' protest: Why Mamata govt is in a tight spot

The idea of absorbing teachers as para teachers - contractual employees with salaries between ₹10,000 to ₹13,000 - has not been well-received, as many teachers fear losing their permanent status.

Opposition and public sentiment

Rajiv K Srivastava highlighted the growing public frustration: "The political system has collapsed. Corruption is rampant, and this verdict is a damning indictment. But instead of fixing it, the state is in denial."

He also questioned the silence and inaction of national opposition leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi, saying, "If leaders don’t show up when Bengal is burning, how will people look to them as alternatives?"

Protest gaining momentum

The protest, initially confined to the affected teachers, is now drawing support from civil society, students, and other disgruntled state employees. Samir noted that the movement gained momentum after a lathi charge by police on teachers earlier this week.

Also Read: Chaos over entry passes mars Mamata's meeting with sacked teachers

While the BJP and the Left Front have tried to capitalise on the unrest, neither has offered a concrete solution.

"The BJP is still focussed on its communal pitch, and the Left lacks organisational strength. It’s a political vacuum," Samir observed.

Legal options ahead

A review petition is the government's first legal recourse. But as Samir cautioned, "It will only hold weight if the government submits something substantial, like the mirror image of OMR sheets. Otherwise, the court won’t budge."

Meanwhile, with less than a month to file a review and looming elections, time is running out.

Moumita stressed, "This is not just about a job. It’s our life. Our families depend on this. Until justice is done, we won’t leave the streets."

Political stakes

With assembly elections less than a year away, the fallout from this issue could dent the ruling Trinamool Congress’s prospects, especially if the opposition manages to galvanise discontent.

"Each affected teacher has a family. That's over a lakh people directly impacted," said Samir. "If the government mishandles this, it could spiral."

Also Read: Can't accept SC verdict, says Mamata Banerjee as she slams BJP for 'conspiracy'

What began as a court verdict has snowballed into a statewide political and humanitarian crisis. As thousands of teachers remain jobless and schools suffer, all eyes are on Mamata Banerjee's next move.

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