ONGOLE: The Andhra Pradesh Teachers Federation staged a dharna near Prakasam Bhavan here on Thursday demanding payment of salaries to teachers working in Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA).

Inaugurating the dharna, State secretary of APTF I. Vijaya Saradhi said that 248 teachers who had opted for Sarva Siksha Abhiyan had not been paid salaries for the last seven months and they faced untold hardships.

`Regularise posts'

As the educational officials showed SSA posts in the counselling held in October last year, several regular teachers opted for them. But the posts have not been regularised till now and so they could not get their salaries from November. He demanded the Government to regularise the posts at least now and enable the teachers to get their the salaries regularly.

APTF district secretary Gurunadha Sarma said that whenever the affected teachers agitated, the officials promised to get them salaries but in vain.

APTF leader K. Markandeya Sarma said that counselling held for teacher transfers was reduced to a farce in Prakasam district. He said that the Finance Department had to approve the SSA posts to enable the teachers get their salaries. He called upon teachers to boycott spot valuation if their problem was not solved by then.

Another leader, M.V. Krishnaiah, said that several teachers were in suspense for two months, as they could not join duty because two or more teachers were transferred to the same post during counselling. Those teachers were later given deputation orders.

They did not get salary for the suspense period of two months. He asked the Government to declare the suspense period as on duty so that they can get their salary.

Sk. Kadar Bhasha, who had opted for SSA post and did not get salary for the last seven months, explained his difficulties as he could not pay house rent, clear dues in the provision shop or pay the milkman.

They later submitted a memorandum to the District Revenue Officer, B. Rama Rao.

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