Dubai: A photograph of a teacher lying unconscious, after attempting suicide, in the Indian state of Bihar, went viral on Twitter today. Apparently, the panchayat (village council) teacher Sanjeev Kumar had not been paid his salary since 2015, and had been running from pillar to post, requesting the education department for his dues. After no response from the department, exhausted, he attempted suicide yesterday, at the Dumra Airport Ground.
The viral photo shows the words “Bhrashtachar Murdabad (Down with corruption)” written in blood, next to the spot where Kumar tried to commit suicide.
Reports say that Kumar slit his wrist and neck, to kill himself. However, he was rushed to a nearby hospital after people saw him bleeding, and was admitted. The teacher is recovering now.
The viral photo sparked protests in the panchayat teachers' organisation, over non-payment of teacher’s salaries in Sitamarhi district, and other parts of the state.
Taking cognizance of the case, the Deputy Director of the Regional Education Division summoned the District Educational Officer to discuss the issue. Shortly after, the department paid the teacher's outstanding salary, on the advice of a planning unit.
Around Rs600,000 (Dh30,000) of unpaid salary was deposited in his bank account. And, reports say that the salary of the current training period remains unpaid.
Tweep @pratapsingr posted: “Soon after his suicide attempt, all the obstacles in the payment of salary were overcome. It is clear that teachers are falling prey to starvation due to departmental apathy.”
The viral post has raised concerns about the rampant corruption in the department, as well as unemployment.
Twitter user @khanjavedi tweeted: “That's a really sad sight. How can anyone sustain without salary for five years? This exploitation is the worst of its kind.”
Tweep @pushpendradakor posted: “How deep the roots of corruption run, in the present government, can be guessed by looking at this picture. Nobody gives up their life so easily. It is when one is completely tortured by the system and has lost all hopes, that one embraces death.”
Twitter user @CharanR00051321 replied: “Is this the only solution to fight with system? If you are frustrated you should escalate it, I understand that nothing is easy but we should fight bravely and this is not the way to expose things.”
Tweep @Virtues03439306 posted: “Nitish Kumar (Chief Minister of Bihar) must take many steps to give employment to the large number of youngsters in Bihar.”
Reportedly, this is not the first time a teacher in the state has resorted to suicide in the state. There have been many such reports about Bihar teachers attempting suicide earlier this year, due to financial crisis.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, according to an April news report on the National Herald website, nearly 400,000 primary and middle school teachers of Bihar were on strike since February 17, in demand for “equal pay for equal work” and proper service conditions. The report stated: “With no salary and no response from Nitish Kumar government to end the impasse, the teachers had earlier sought the intervention of the Indian President and Prime Minister, also. Narrating their ordeal during the unprecedented situation, teachers had written to them in the past.” However, the appeals went unheard.
