PUNE: State-based students organisation Chhatra Bharati has organised a long march for all students across the State. The march will be organised on the lines of the farmers’ long march and is scheduled to be held on November 15, from Mahatma Phule Wada in Pune to Mantralaya in Mumbai.
“The march is being held in order to address the continuous streak of problems and upheaval in the State’s education sector, and to question the futile government policies regarding education,” Datta Dhage, President, Chhatra Bharati said.
Students belonging to the disadvantaged sections of the society, across ages and classes will participate in the long march, along with parents, teachers, activists and other eminent personalities in the field of education, literature, etc.
“One of our major demands is that the students from classes KG (Kindergarten) to PG (Post Graduation) should get free and qualitative education. We also want effective implementation and adequate funds allocation for the pre-primary education. Taking up
the constitutional responsibility of giving education to all, the Central, as well as the State government, should spend at least 10 per cent of its income on education,” Dhage said.
Paying attention to some other issues that are going on in the State’s education sector, Dhage added, “We will also demand that the Mahapariksha Portal that was found to be corrupt should be shut down, and all examinations should be conducted by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). Also, to promote and increase employment, jobs need to be created with reference to the demographic survey in 2011.”
Chhatra Bharati also demanded that the mess/canteen service in the government hostels needs to restart and that the decision to provide the students residing there with money for food through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) portal should be taken back.
Rashtriya Seva Dal, Akhil Bharatiya Adhyapak Sena, TDF, Anubhav Shiksha Kendra, Maharashtra Yuva Parishad, Mukhyadhyapak Sanghatana, Shikshaketar Karmachari Sanghatana, Maharashtra Rajya Shikshan Bachav Kruti Samiti and several parent organisations will participate in the march.
