School employees continue their hunger strike

KATHMANDU, July 3: The community school employees have been continuing their hunger strike at Maitighar in the federal capital, demanding an increase in their services and facilities and retaining their quota. 

They have been on a hunger strike for the past 22 days. Employees of nearly 60 community schools are participating in the hunger strike, said Shanti Nath Yogi, General Secretary of the School Employees Council. According to Yogi, the employees on hunger strikes are facing difficulties related to food and accommodation. 

Although the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology started talks with the agitating employees of the community schools forming a committee on June 18, no agreement has been reached. "The Council is preparing for additional protest programmes for lack of agreement on our demands," Yogi said.

The talks team formed by the Ministry is headed by Chudamani Poudel, Director General of the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development. The Under-Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration are also in the talks team. "The Ministry of Finance has not given any reply to the topic of additional budget for meeting the employees' demands," Poudel said.

The Council withdrew its programme of school closure after the government called it to talks. However, it has continued with the hunger strike to press for its demands.