The All West Kameng District Students’ Union (AWKDSU) has called for a 24-hour bandh across the district to press for the joining of 11 teachers at their designated postings.
Prior to enforcing the bandh, the students had given the government ample time to resolve the issue of teacher shortage in the district. However, despite multiple appeals by AWKDSU to the authorities-including the Education Commissioner-the teachers have not reported for duty. This has led the union to resort to a bandh as a form of protest.
If their demands continue to be ignored, it appears that more such protests could take place across the district.
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union has also extended its support to the protest, standing in solidarity with the students of West Kameng.
The government must intervene to resolve the impasse, as bandhs are not a long-term solution. With mid-term examinations currently ongoing in most schools across the state, the government must ensure that students do not suffer academically.
If the concerned teachers are unable or unwilling to join their postings for valid reasons, temporary arrangements should be made. Most importantly, the government must devise a mechanism to ensure that teachers join their assigned postings within a stipulated timeframe.