RTI reveals Tawadkar sought Gaondongrem teacher’s transfer

CANACONA
The opposition has accused Tribal Welfare Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar of seeking the transfer of a teacher from the Government Primary School at Ziltawadi-Gaondongrem as part of a “revenge transfer”.
Following a boycott of classes by students and protests by parents, including a dharna at the Canacona ADEI office, the education department subsequently withdrew the order and reinstated the teacher, Sukanti Velip, at the GPS at Ziltawadi.
Opposition party leaders in Canacona have circulated on social media a reply received to an RTI application by a resident from Bardez, where the PIO of the education department attached a copy of a note put up by Tawadkar dated November 26, seeking the transfer of two government school teachers, including Sukanti Velip, “with immediate effect.”
The minister’s note was endorsed by the chief minister, who also holds the education portfolio, and it was sent to the Directorate of Education on November 28.
The files for the transfers of both teachers were processed by the education department and Sukanti Velip’s transfer order dated November 28 was reportedly received in the ADEI office on December 5.
The teacher was informed of her transfer on December 6 and her transfer sparked off protests among the students and parents. Students boycotted classes on December 8, while they, along with their parents, sat outside the school.
On December 9, PTA members went to Chaudi, submitted a memorandum and protested at ADEI Canacona office. The next day, drama unfolded in Canacona ADEI office when all students of GPS Ziltawadi staged a dharna inside the ADEI office along with their parents. This prompted the department to cancel the GPS Ziltawadi teacher’s transfer order.
The opposition, including Congress leaders Janardhan Bhandari, Gaspar Coutinho, Ursila D’Costa, Goa Forward party leaders Prashant Naik, Isidore Fernandes, Mohandas Lolienkar, Vikas Bhagat, Shubham Komarpant and others, had also come out in support of the teacher.
Fernandes accused Tawadkar of “revenge transfer” of a dedicated and honest government primary teacher.
The controversy
Bhandari claimed that the controversy arose when a cultural programme was hosted by art and culture department in the GPS Ziltawadi premises, in collaboration with local groups, to promote Goan traditions and young talent.
“While setting up the stage for the event, the organisers are believed to have cut and removed four iron poles existing on the permanent stage of GPS Ziltawadi, but did not refit them despite requests,” claimed Bhandari.
“The teacher who is in-charge/acting headmistress of the GPS, which has two other contract teachers, informed the ADEI of the damages and alterations at a government school, which many believed was a normal procedure adopted by a school in-charge.”
“Reporting this matter to the ADEI may have annoyed the minister, since a primary teacher from a government primary school had dared to complain against his department.”
Bhandari alleged that organisers of the programme reportedly persuaded the minister to transfer the teacher from the school for complaining against the minister’s department.
“Accordingly, the minister issued a note seeking the teacher’s transfer from the GPS Ziltawadi,” claimed Bhandari.
Incidentally, while students were boycotting classes and their parents were also protesting, the local organisers who had cut and removed the iron poles for the event later replaced them with new poles at the GPS school stage.