Teachers' strike: Minister to observe satyagraha

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MAY 10. Known for his unconventional ways, Mr. H. Vishwanath, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, has decided to take up the challenge posed by the pre-university teachers who have boycotted valuation of answer scripts, in his own way, though in a token manner.

Mr. Vishwanath, who some time ago performed the marriage of his daughter without pomp at a mass marriage function, has decided to observe a token silent satyagraha before the Mahatma Gandhi statue here on Friday to make the striking teachers see reason since the Government's appeal to resume valuation work has fallen on deaf ears.

The satyagraha, scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon, is not a sign of weakness either of the Government or himself. It is a weapon being used in the interest of students, to appraise the people of the truth of the matter and to bring about a change of heart among the evaluators before the Government took stringent legal action against them, Mr. Vishwanath said in a statement here today.

Firmly rejecting the teachers' demand for UGC pay-scales, involving a financial burden of Rs. 60 crores, Mr. Vishwanath said it was unfortunate that the teachers had failed to realise this was too much to bear for the Government, which was finding it hard to mobilise resources even to tackle problems like scarcity of drinking water in several districts.

The Government had examined the demands of teachers with an open mind and held several rounds of discussions with their representatives. It was prepared for discussion on any demand other than UGC pay-scales.

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Section  : Regional
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