Patna, September 28: The Bihar Pradesh Education Sevak/Tealim Sevak (Education Center) Singh has started a seven-day peaceful sit-in at Gardni Bagh in Patna in support of its various demands. The sit-in is being presided over by Sangh state president Vinod Rajk. A large number of Shikhasevaks and Shikhasevaks (educational centers) from different districts of the state reached Gurdani Bagh and raised their voices in favor of their demands.

Sangh State Secretary Sunil Kumar Rao said that Shikha Sevaks have been performing their duties with full honesty and dedication as per the instructions of the government for the last 17 years. He said that despite serving from Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to Public Education Department, only assurances have been received from the government for the last five years. Due to lack of practical action on the demands, Shiksha Sevaks were finally forced to take to the streets to protest.

He said that Shikha Sevak (Education Center) also renders his services like a teacher from 9 am to 4 pm, but the honorarium has not been paid for the last four months. Educators are facing serious financial difficulties due to non-payment of outstanding honorarium. Singh says that many workers are also suffering from mental and physical problems due to constant financial problems.
Sunil Kumar Rao claimed that more than 30 education sevaks (educational centers) have passed away this year and their families are facing severe financial difficulties. He said that the government should take an immediate decision on the demands of the education sevaks, keeping in mind their long service and their conditions. Singh officials said that the peaceful sit-in started at Gardni Bagh would continue for seven consecutive days. If the demands are not accepted by the government during this period, it can be decided to continue the protest further.
Important demands
Education Sevaks are demanding that all Education Sevaks and Education Centers serving continuously in the state for last 17 years should be given the benefit of pay scale and the rules should be amended to provide benefit of Anakampa appointment.

Other demands include giving teacher status to educationists, immediate payment of honorarium pending for the last four months, increasing tenure from 60 years to 65 years and ensuring payment of honorarium by the 5th of every month.

The protestors say that despite serving for a long time, they are not getting proper employment rights and facilities. They demand that the government should take a concrete decision to secure their future considering their 17 years of experience and services.

Sangh founder member Rakesh Roshan, State Treasurer Shiv Lok Ram, Prakash Das, Pinto Kumar, Rajaram Mehto, Parshuram Manjhi, Islam Ansari, Vijay Saathi, Badrinath Manjhi, Pushpanjali Kumari, Anoka Devi, Sonu Kumari, Shivji Ram, Uma Shankar Prasad, Amar Ram, Brahmanand Das, Ramesh Prasad, Saleem Ansari and Noor Nazar were among those who made the sit-in a success. A large number of educationists participated.