Amid ongoing unrest over the School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam, job-deprived teachers in West Bengal have announced a symbolic ‘half-naked’ protest march from Sealdah to Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Friday.
The demonstration, aimed at exposing what they describe as systemic corruption in the state’s education system, is expected to intensify pressure on the West Bengal government, the SSC and the education board.
Chinmoy Mandal, one of the protesting students, said the teachers had been pushed to the edge. “One of our veteran colleagues, who lost his job and was battling kidney failure, passed away today.
He was worried about his medical treatment after losing his livelihood. Who will take responsibility for his death? On Friday, we will march half-naked to show how the government, the commission and the board have stripped the education system of its dignity,” Mandal said on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, six job-deprived teachers attempted to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence. Their aim was to directly question her decision to conduct a second aptitude test for candidates who had already served for nearly a decade.
However, lacking official permission, the group was detained and taken to Kalighat Police Station.
On Tuesday, Mamata addressed the issue, reiterating the government’s stance. “We are offering two options. If someone refuses to sit for the exam, they might lose their chance. Eligible candidates must understand that review and legal adjudication are uncertain — appearing for the exam is the best path forward,” she said.
Her comments, however, drew strong criticism from the agitating teachers. According to them, many of the affected individuals are either unwell, pregnant, or otherwise unable to endure another round of examination after years of service.
They also questioned the logic of offering re-examination only to “eligible” candidates, while ineligible candidates have reportedly been offered positions in different departments without further testing.
The protest march on Friday, described by organisers as a “half-naked procession,” will highlight these grievances. “We want to expose the injustice we’ve faced. We were once employed with dignity.
Now, after serving for years, we’re being forced to prove our merit again. Why this double standard?” one protester asked.
As tensions rise, the demonstration is expected to garner attention not only from political circles but also from concerned citizens and education stakeholders across the state.
Follow us
