Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 21, 2025, Kolkata : The prolonged protest by jobless teachers and non-teaching staff outside Vikas Bhavan has taken a new turn as the demonstrators formally submitted an open letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Education Minister Bratya Basu, seeking immediate dialogue to resolve the deadlock surrounding their employment status. The group, united under the banner of Yoob Shiksha Jakhirhara Manch, has been staging an indefinite protest for months, demanding reinstatement without having to undergo another round of examinations.
The movement, which has appeared increasingly stagnant and directionless in recent weeks, now seeks clarity and resolution through direct communication with the state leadership. According to the agitators, an email was sent to both the Chief Minister and the Education Minister on Monday night, outlining their plight and requesting an opportunity to sit across the table for a discussion. However, no official response was received as of Wednesday afternoon.
Faced with silence from the government, the protestors opted to make their plea public. “We have submitted an open letter since we did not get a response to the email. We still believe that a solution is possible if the government agrees to speak with us,” said one of the agitating teachers outside Vikas Bhavan.
The roots of the crisis trace back to the 2016 recruitment panel, which was declared invalid by the Supreme Court following findings of irregularities and corruption in the hiring process. In a landmark judgment, the apex court scrapped the entire panel, resulting in the termination of approximately 26,000 teaching and non-teaching employees across West Bengal’s government-aided schools.
For those who lost their jobs, the ruling not only dismantled their livelihoods but also cast a long shadow over their professional futures. Many of them had been working for years before the court’s decision nullified their appointments. In their letter, the protestors emphasized the humanitarian crisis they are facing, urging the state government to recognize their service and consider a policy-based resolution that would allow them to be reinstated without being subjected again to competitive examinations.
As the protest continues, the silence from the state administration has drawn criticism from civil society groups and political observers who argue that constructive engagement, rather than avoidance, is essential to resolve such a large-scale employment crisis. With thousands of livelihoods hanging in the balance, the agitators maintain that the responsibility now lies with the government to respond and open a channel for negotiation.
The unfolding situation remains tense, and the protestors have indicated that they will continue their agitation until the state leadership formally addresses their demands.