Mumbai: Teachers from 63 aided private primary schools in Mumbai, who have been on strike for the past 19 days at Azad Maidan, have threatened self-immolation, unless the BMC approves subsidies pending for 15 years, before March 2.
In a letter written to Congress corporator and the leader of the opposition Ravi Raja, the teachers have warned they will self-immolate in front of the BMC office on March 2 at 4 pm, if their demands are not fulfilled. The current salaries of these teachers is around Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 per month.
For 15 years now, the BMC has not issued subsidies approved for them since 15 years. The teachers are not demanding subsidies with retrospective effect. “We are happy if the BMC approves the grant from today. It is not possible to run a family on this salary.
If the demands are not approved before March 2, we will immolate ourselves in front of the BMC head office,” said a teacher on strike. “Had they been seeking a grant with retrospective effect, the amount would have exceeded Rs 250 crore. But the allotment of grants from the current day will not cost the corporation more than Rs 55 crore.
Despite consensus on allocation of grant in the House and the standing committee, why does the municipal commissioner continue to be obstinate?” Raja asked. The subsidy is borne by the BMC and state government equally. However, for the past several years, the state government has not paid dues worth Rs 2,600 crore.
