Deptt. of Education forms ‘Monitoring Cell’ to monitor ‘prohibited activities’ by employees
কর্মীদের আপত্তিজনক কাজকর্ম দেখতে মনিটরিং সেল গড়ল শিক্ষা বিভাগ

January 23: Soon after taking charge as Minister of Education, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced strict action against school and college teachers against taking part in any protest against government policies. He mainly laid down some basic strictures:

• If teachers are found protesting during duty hours, they will have to bear a salary cut for the said day.
• He also said that there will be one-day pay cut even if they come to meet the minister concerned in any working day.

Himanta Biswa Sarma sent out this warning in a meeting of college principals and teachers at the Kalakshetra Auditorium, Guwahati on Wednesday, which may have termed as “unprecedented”. The minister went on to add that if any teacher was found to be present in any anti-government meeting or gathering, he or she could be suspended overnight.

Incidentally, teachers and students are in the forefront for anti-CAA protests that have erupted across the North Eastern region as well as across the country. The minister went on to add that if any teacher was found to be present in any anti-government meeting or gathering, he or she could be suspended overnight.

It needs mention here that the Director of Higher Education (DHE), Assam on 30 December, 2019 has warned employees of disciplinary action if they indulge in criticism of the government or its policies. A similar notice was also issued by the office of the Director of Elementary Education on 24 December, 2019.

The state government has also warned its employees of disciplinary action against those “indulging and participating in political activities” on social media platforms. Further, as per sources, the department of education has also formed a monitoring cell to monitor the “prohibited activities”.