PANAJI
After three days of protesting outside Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar s official residence at Altinho, Panaji, the 75 para teachers have decided to call off their strike based on assurances made by the minister to extend their contracts by another year and a salary hike. He has also allowed them to pursue their BEd and DEd degrees through open universities.The teachers had, since Monday night been camping outside the chief minister s residence demanding regularization of their jobs. During several meetings, the chief minister expressed his inability to absorb them into the system as they were not trained. He however offered to extend their contracts for another one year.Lending support and helping as mediators, Panaji MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar and Chairman of the Goa State Women s Commission, Vidya Shet along with a delegation of para teachers met with Parsekar on Thursday.Following the meeting, Kunkolienkar said, “the teachers would be given a one-year extension in their contract for the forthcoming academic year and a revision in their salaries. They have also been advised to complete their BEd and DEd degrees through open universities.”He added that he would help the teachers in getting admissions to the open university and try to see how they can be accommodated in the existing system. Hesitant of withdrawing the strike, Goa Para Teachers Association leader Smita Desai said they were temporarily calling off the strike, vowing to continue till their demands were met.Earlier in the day, the teachers were forced to shift base to Azad Maidan after a government notification identified Azad Maidan and Campal ground as the only two grounds where protests can be held. Fearing arrest, the teachers decided to move to Azad Maidan to carry out their protest.
