Teachers Are Fighting For Justice: West Bengal Job Scam

A big protest is going on in Kolkata, West Bengal. Unemployed teachers are fighting for jobs they feel they have achieved through their hard work. This fight is against a big teacher recruitment scam which has shaken the state. Many capable candidates say that they were not given jobs wrongly, while some people allegedly paid to get the jobs.

This protest is not new. This has been going on for several months. But now it has become stronger with the “do or die” hunger strike. Teachers are on the streets, and they are not taking food and water until their demands are met. They want the government to give them the jobs they were promised.

The Roots Of Scam: How The Scam Came To Light

The roots of teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal are very deep. This includes corruption at different levels of the education department. The allegations include irregularities in jobs for primary, secondary and even higher-grade teachers (9th and 10th grades).

Eligible candidates claim that instead of merit, money played an important role in appointments. Many people suspect that the jobs were sold to ineligible people for huge sums of money. Due to this, thousands of capable candidates have been unemployed for years.

The scandal came to light when separate investigations began. These investigations revealed a large system of bribery and illegal appointments. Documents show that many jobs were given on the basis of money and not on who was best for the job.

Political personalities came under investigation

The investigation into the scam has led to several arrests. Many senior officials and leaders are now in jail.

Some of the main people caught in this scam include:

Partha Chatterjee: He was once a powerful cabinet minister and close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He was arrested in connection with this scam. Investigators found a huge amount of cash from his girlfriend’s house. This revelation shocked many people across Bengal.
Manik Bhattacharya: Another Trinamool Congress (TMC) party MLA. He was also a former chairman of the council. He is now in jail due to his alleged role in this scam.

These arrests show how serious the corruption was. They show that powerful people were involved in snatching jobs from capable candidates.

Wrong methods in recruitment

The protesters say that even though they passed exams and interviews, they did not get jobs. They believe that their places were sold to others. A common claim is about “white OMR sheets”. These are the answer sheets which were allegedly filled later for ineligible candidates who had paid for the jobs.

Many teachers say that they qualified for the interview several times. But still he did not get jobs. Now, some people are being asked to give interviews again. This is happening to people who may have got jobs illegally. This makes the protesters feel that the government is once again trying to deny them the jobs they deserve.

A Broken Promise: Chief Minister’s Announcement

In 2020, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a big promise. He had announced that 20,000 primary teacher jobs would be given. Later, 3,500 more positions were also promised.

However, even after two years of this announcement, many capable candidates say that they have not received the appointment yet. They are feeling betrayed by the broken promises of the government. The protesters say that Chief Minister Banerjee’s statement that unemployment is low in Bengal seems hollow to them. Because of this scam they are seeing many talented people without jobs.

“Our government has kept us out of jobs for 8 years”, said one protester. We’ve also exceeded the 40-year application limit” This shows the disappointment and long wait of these teachers.

Teachers’ Struggle: A “Do Or Die” Movement

The protests turned into a “do or die” hunger strike. The teachers gathered near the headquarters of the Education Ministry in Salt Lake area of Kolkata. They had brought food and water from home, but then they set it aside to begin their fast.

Many protesters have been unemployed for eight years. His age has exceeded the limit for applying for a government job. They feel that they have nothing left to lose. They are ready to risk their health and life for justice.

The main demands of the protesters are:

Instant appointments: They want the jobs they deserve without further delay.
Justice for scandal: They want those responsible for selling jobs to be held accountable.
The end of corruption: They demand a fair and transparent recruitment process.

The health of some teachers has already deteriorated due to the hunger strike. Many people have gone to hospitals, but they are not ready to give up. They say they will not back down until their demands are met. They are ready to sacrifice their lives if needed.

Police and government response

Police are present at the protest site. He has repeatedly asked the protesters to end their strike and leave. They say that the state government has told the court that jobs will be given. However, the protesters do not believe in these assurances. They want concrete action rather than just promises.

Teachers say that they tried to talk to the officials. But he did not find any concrete answer or solution. The lack of dialogue is what led him to start a hunger strike.

Symbolism of protests

This view is very impressive on the streets of Kolkata. Teachers are lying on the ground, holding placards and chanting slogans. Symbols of his profession, chalk and duster are also kept on the road. This shows that they are ready to teach, but they are not being given a chance.

“Our chalk and duster is ready, we are ready, but we are not being given a chance”, one protester said This shows their disappointment and readiness to work.

This protest also shows how the scandal has affected families. The daughter of a state education minister was reportedly given the job using influence. Later a court ordered him to return his salary. This story has further increased the anger of those who missed out on getting jobs on the basis of merit.

Conclusion: A Fight For A Corruption-Free Future

West Bengal teacher recruitment scam is not just a job fight. It is a fight for justice, fairness and a corruption-free society. The brave teachers who took to the streets of Kolkata are not fighting just for themselves. They are fighting for the future of West Bengal. They want a system where qualifications, not money, decide who gets a job.

Their “do or die” opposition shows their strong intention. They are ready to face any challenge until their demands are heard and met. This movement reminds everyone that huge sacrifices often have to be made in the fight for justice. The eyes of the state and the entire country are on how this serious situation will be resolved.

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