Gujarat : 30K students affected as Rajkot Teachers Strike demanding Old Pension Scheme

Rajkot : Despite warnings of strict action from the administration, thousands of government employees, including teachers from primary and secondary schools, went on strike in Rajkot district on Wednesday. They are demanding an amendment to the new pension scheme, which they believe is detrimental to their retirement benefits.

The strike, primarily organized by the Rajkot coordination committee, saw over 7,000 teachers from more than 700 schools across the district participate. This resulted in a direct impact on the education of over 30,000 students.

According to Bharatsinh Parmar, the media convener of the committee, the strike involved not only government school teachers but also over 1,600 teachers from aided schools in Rajkot city. Additionally, 36 employees from various government departments joined the protest in solidarity.

The central demand of the protesting educators is the reinstatement of the old pension scheme, which they perceive as offering more secure and reliable retirement benefits compared to the new contributory plan.

Parmar further stated that if the government fails to address their concerns, the committee will consider boycotting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He elaborated that on Tuesday, 4,600 teachers from primary schools and 2,629 teachers from secondary and higher secondary schools in Rajkot had already participated in a “pen-down and chalk-down” protest, where they reported to their schools but refrained from taking classes.

With the strike continuing, it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds and whether the government will consider the demands of the protesting employees. The potential boycott of elections adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute.