Lucknow: In a symbolic gesture of protest, teachers across Uttar Pradesh will wear black armbands while participating in the evaluation of UP Board examination papers starting March 19. This move marks the second phase of the ongoing agitation called by the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh (UPMSS) to press for long-pending demands.
Dr. R.P. Mishra, State Vice President and Spokesperson of UPMSS, and Narendra Kumar Verma, General Secretary, stated that this decision follows a resolution passed during a recent meeting of the state executive committee chaired by UPMSS State President Suresh Kumar Tripathi.
As part of the first phase of the protest, a statewide sticker campaign was organized from February 25 to March 15, urging the government to take action on demands such as:
- Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme
- Service security provisions under Section 21
- Promotion-related issues under Sections 12 and 18 concerning teachers and ad hoc promotions for principals
- Equal pay for equal work for teachers of unaided institutions
- Provision of free medical facilities for teachers
Thousands of stickers were displayed at schools, educational offices, and public spaces to draw government attention.
In Phase Two, teachers and evaluators will wear black armbands during the evaluation process to voice their discontent. Following the conclusion of the evaluation, a State Council meeting will be held on April 14 in Kanpur, where the movement will be reviewed and the next phase of action will be planned.
To ensure the success of this phase, a high-level meeting of senior office bearers was convened at Udayachal, the district office in Lucknow, chaired by District President Anil Sharma. Present at the meeting were Dr. R.P. Mishra (State Vice President), Narendra Kumar Verma (General Secretary), Dr. R.K. Trivedi (State Minister), and other key leaders.
The organization has appointed in-charges for each of the five evaluation centers in Lucknow, namely:
- Government Jubilee Inter College
- Government Inter College, Hussainabad
- Government Inter College, Nishatganj
- Government Girls Inter College, Shahmina Road
- Government Girls Inter College, Gomti Nagar
Prominent speakers at the meeting included Dr. R.P. Mishra, Narendra Kumar Verma, Dr. R.K. Trivedi, Anil Sharma, Anurag Mishra (State Council Member), Mahesh Chandra (District Minister), R.P. Singh (Treasurer), Alok Pathak (Audit Officer), Dr. S.K. Mani Shukla (Vice President), and Dr. Anil Kumar Tiwari (Joint Minister).
The association reiterated its commitment to peacefully but firmly pursue its demands, warning that further phases of protest will escalate if necessary reforms are not undertaken by the government.
