Guest Teachers Cry Foul: "We Are Treated as Daily Wage Labourers"

Guest Teachers in Delhi: A Decade of Broken Promises

For years, guest teachers in Delhi have been engaged in ongoing protests, demanding what they assert are their rightful entitlements. According to the teachers, their appeals have fallen on deaf ears despite their persistent efforts to seek justice from various authorities. Many guest teachers express frustration, highlighting that a decade has passed since they were assured of regularisation—a promise that remains unfulfilled.

A guest teacher lamented, "We have been given false assurances for over ten years now, and yet nothing has changed." The frustration among these educators is palpable as they continue to advocate for stability and recognition in a system that seems indifferent to their plight.

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Arun Dedha, the President of the All India Guest Teachers Association (AIGTA), has voiced a strong critique of the systemic neglect faced by guest teachers in Delhi, asserting that they have been relegated to a mere "vote bank" status, which has prevented the regularisation of their positions over the past decade. "Guest teachers were first recruited in 2009," Dedha explains, "and initially, they were paid on an hourly basis. This was later changed to a daily basis, but the pay remains meagre."

Dedha highlights the financial struggles faced by these educators, emphasising the lack of job security and benefits. "These teachers receive very little pay. They don’t get paid on national holidays, and often they only receive a salary for 20 to 22 days a month," he states. The lack of compensation during school holidays further increases their financial instability. "We don't get paid for May and June, nor for the holiday period between January 1st and January 15th," Dedha continues, pointing out the significant gaps in their income.

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The plight of guest teachers reveals a broader issue of precarious employment within the education sector, where teachers are expected to maintain their professional standards without the assurance of fair compensation or job security. 

Dedha expresses deep frustration over the continuous cycle of broken promises made by successive governments regarding the regularisation of guest teachers in Delhi. According to Dedha, these unfulfilled commitments have been a consistent theme in election manifestos over the years. "They promised this to about 22,000 guest teachers," Dedha explains, highlighting the scale of the issue.

“The Delhi government included the promise of regularisation in 2013, 2015, and 2020, yet these pledges remain unfulfilled," Dedha laments. He further illustrates the political blame game that ensues after elections, where accountability becomes elusive. "After coming to power, they say that the matter is with the Lieutenant Governor (LG)," Dedha notes, describing the ongoing finger-pointing between the Chief Minister and the LG. "The blame game continues: LG says the Chief Minister is responsible, and the Chief Minister says the LG is responsible."

Dara Singh Meena, a guest teacher in Delhi, paints a grim picture of the realities faced by educators like himself, who endure poor working conditions and financial instability. Meena reveals that his salary is a meagre 14,003 rupees, a sum that barely sustains him. "There are no leaves, and the working conditions are absolutely poor," Meena states. "When my child fell sick, I had to take leave, but it cost me money. First of all, the pay is so little, but even that comes in late."

Meena compares his earnings to those of a labourer, remarking, "I feel even a labourer makes more money these days. It's a sorry state of affairs when teachers, who are responsible for educating children, are treated so poorly. They are treating teaching, such a respectable profession, as if it were daily wage labour."

The plight of guest teachers is exacerbated by the dwindling numbers in their ranks. Meena points out that out of the original of about 22,000 teachers, only about 15,000 remain, as many have been relieved of their duties. "I don't have any other source of income," Meena shares. "In May and June, when we don't get paid, I have to borrow money from others. Many guest teachers are knee-deep in debt because of this."

The lack of job security is a constant source of anxiety for Meena and his colleagues. "We are getting older, and we are so dependent on this job. We live our lives in total insecurity," he says, highlighting the precarious nature of their employment.

Another guest teacher, Vinod Kumar, sheds light on the challenges faced by those in his position, highlighting the systemic issues within Delhi's education system. Kumar, who has been a guest teacher at Government Boys' Senior Secondary School in Trilokpur for the past 12 years, shares a sobering account of his experiences and frustrations.

Kumar explains, "I've been teaching as a guest teacher in Delhi for 12 years. We receive a per-day salary, and at the end of the month, it's too little to survive in a city like Delhi." This daily wage system places guest teachers in a precarious financial situation, where even taking a single day off results in a pay cut. "If we even take one leave, that day's salary is cut," Kumar says, emphasising the constant difficulties they face.

The lack of job security is a pressing concern for Kumar and his fellow educators. "There is no job security, and we are removed if there's a new permanent teacher," he explains. This uncertainty hangs over their heads, making it difficult to plan for the future. "When we could have made our careers by sitting for exams, we sacrificed it for the careers of students," Kumar reflects. Now, many guest teachers find themselves overage and unable to pursue other opportunities.

"Everyone thinks of us as less, just people who come and go," Kumar states, highlighting the lack of respect and recognition for their work. The pressure on guest teachers is immense; any small mistake can lead to their removal by the principal. "If we are unwell for long, we are pressured to come and teach, with threats of being removed if we take leaves," he shares.

The absence of medical assistance or leave entitlements worsens the situation, making it extremely difficult for guest teachers to survive in Delhi, especially if they have families. Despite numerous protests, the government has been slow to respond. Kumar points out that Manish Sisodia, even brought a cabinet note addressing these issues, but to no avail. "It's been seven years, and not a single rupee of salary has increased," Kumar laments.

The Delhi government has yet to take any action to address the grievances of guest teachers or answer media queries on this pressing issue. Kumar is just one among thousands of guest teachers who are struggling to make ends meet. "We have protested a lot of times," Kumar states, reflecting the persistent struggle for dignity and justice in the teaching profession.

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