This emerged at a function where the Dakshina Kannada Physical Education Teachers’ Association on Saturday felicitated 13 retired physical education teachers from the district on Saturday. The association, on the occasion, also opened its new office in the new Karnataka State Government Employees’ building.
Speaking on the occasion, the association’s president P.V. Joseph said despite contributing immensely in developing national and international-level athletes the condition of the physical education teachers still continued to be bad. “We are denied of statutory service benefits,” he said. The physical education teachers are still considered special teachers and have not yet been given the grade of assistant teachers.
Following relentless fight by the association for the last four years the State Government has now come forward to make changes in the cadre and recruitment rules, he said. “We hope to get orders changing our grade in a fortnight.” Mr. Joseph sought financial aid from legislators in addressing the problems of the physical education teachers. Among those who were felicitated included Prasanna Kumar Jain, Diwakar Hegde, Margaret D’Souza, K. Tukaram Rai, Sunder Shetty, Prabhavati K, Gopal Shetty, M. Jangannath Shetty, Narasimhaiah, Vijayendra Kokkade, M. Ibrahim, Girija A and veteran sportsperson Hilda Vegas.
