The Hindu : CM non-committal on PR teachers' demands

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

CM non-committal on PR teachers' demands

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad April 29. Panchayat raj teachers attending the 25th State council meeting of their representatives body, PRTU, that opened here on here on Monday were disappointed as the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, did not make any commitment on their demands.

Before Mr. Naidu's arrival the PRTU general secretary, P. Sudhakar Reddy, made a speech repeatedly praising the Chief Minister, drawing cheers from the large gathering.

And when the Chief Minister finally arrived, one hour late, it was the turn of not only the PRTU president, B. Mohan Reddy, but also that of AP NGOs' Association and TNGOs' Union, G. Poorchanadra Rao and A. Krishna Reddy respectively to heap encomiums on him.

Mr. Sudhakar Reddy rose once again to read the general secretary's report and seek the Chief Minister's announcements on the 18 demands raised, of which "10, in fact, were non-financial.'' The foremost among them is retention of PR teachers within their mandal.

The Chief Minister lighted the lamp accompanied by the Primary Education Minister, M. Venkateswara Rao, and the Commissioner, Manmohan Singh, and was wreathed in smiles. He, however, declined a garland offered to him and a headgear. But, he accepted a framed citation in which he was once again described as "the best administrator.'' B. Dharma Reddy, an ex-MLC, took the spirit further, referring to the severe summer which required "showers'' from the Chief Minister.

The Primary Education Minister, in his speech said today's "panthulu'' (teacher) knew how to live, reminding the gathering of the adage that one took to this profession only as a last resort. He declined to comment on the demands.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, who made the speech after him, asked the Minister to "discuss'' the demands.

The Chief Minister said he was not able to meet any of the demands, as the memorandum was just submitted to him. The only concession the Chief Minister made was an official declaration, changing the nomenclature of the Panchayat Raj Teachers' Union to Progressive Recognised Teachers' Union fitting the earlier abbreviation PRTU.

The Chief Minister called upon the teaching community to take the total literacy programme to its logical end ensuring 90 per cent achievement by 2005.

Again as a policy, the Government gave utmost respect to the teacher and began counselling for effecting transfers. There was no interference from any quarter. Some departments performed better if there was no outside interference and the Education department was one of them. Mr Naidu stressed the need for teachers working also for educating society on family planning and Neeru-meeru.

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