wb-jobless-teachers-end-hunger-strike-after-four-day-revolt

A group of jobless teachers under the School Service Commission’s (SSC) 2016 job-deprived category called off their hunger strike on Sunday after staging a determined protest outside the commission’s office since Wednesday night.

 

The agitators had been demanding the immediate release of the list of eligible candidates, along with the ‘mirror image’ of their OMR sheets. What began as a peaceful sit-in quickly escalated into a larger movement, drawing solidarity and participation in phases over the next three days.

 

According to protesting teachers, the decision to withdraw stemmed from worsening health conditions and growing organisational chaos. Several participants cited “extreme mismanagement” as a significant factor behind the decision to discontinue the fast.

 

Although the hunger strike has ended, the underlying grievances remain unresolved.

 

On Friday, Education Minister Bratya Basu met representatives of the protesters at Bikash Bhavan. The meeting was described as “positive” by sources familiar with the discussions, with the possibility of solutions emerging. However, many among the jobless refused to vacate the protest site, expressing scepticism over the promises made.

 

Even after the dialogue with the minister, three teachers — Suman Biswas, Pankaj Roy, and Pratap Rana — continued their hunger strike outside the SSC office, insisting that they would only call it off once recruitment was officially confirmed.

 

On Saturday morning, the protest venue shifted to the foot of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Salt Lake, invoking the spirit of non-violent resistance. Before that, demonstrators had occupied the road in front of the SSC building.

 

By Sunday morning, however, the three teachers on hunger strike were physically exhausted and forced to end their protest. “We are not in a condition to talk right now,” Biswas said, speaking on behalf of the trio.

 

While the hunger strike has concluded, protestors said their agitation would continue through other democratic means, with calls for transparency and justice in the recruitment process growing louder. They urged the government to respond swiftly and ensure fairness for hundreds of aspiring teachers who feel cheated by an opaque selection system.