Parents, teachers and members of around 40 organisations, including trade unions, mill workers’ groups and citizens’ groups, have formed the Maharashtra Student Teacher Citizens Action Committee to protest against unfair educational policies in the State. The movement will start its protest with a rally in Kolhapur on February 10.
“Since protests by individual groups have failed to deter the government from withdrawing from harmful policies, we will protest together during the Budget session,” Girish Phonde of the All India Youth Federation said on Monday. They will ask Gram Sabhas to move a resolution against school closures, and demand that educational spending be increased to 6% of Budget as against 2.3%.
Milind Ranade, secretary of the New Trade Union Initiative, said, “Instead of providing education as a means for social equality, the State is focusing on vocational education to provide a labour class to serve the interests of corporates.”
