“There
is no conceivable law by which man can be forced to work on any
terms except those he chooses to set. There is no conceivable law to
prevent him from setting them.”
– Ayn Rand
Justice
is the basic requirement for any human being and his society. It
provides the required motivation to work, to succeed, to prosper, to
develop, and to excel. Whenever the right and honor of man is encroached
upon, there exists some unrest in the society. No matter how small the
affected segment is, the consequences can have a major impact on the
entire society. If unheeded, it may lead to a rebellion; and should
rightly do so. A society that becomes prone to injustice and corruption
simply cannot advance or excel, as backwardness and failure becomes its
fate. To quote Benjamin Franklin:
“In
some countries, the course of the courts is so tedious, and the
expenses so high, that the remedy, justice, is worse than the
disease, injustice.”
Hence, the
social structure should be such that no one is discouraged to seek and
ask for justice. One issue on the rise that is seeking the much-deprived
justice is that relating to our educational system and policy. No, the
issue is not of the much talked-about unsatisfactory and inefficient
examination system that exists in our nation but rather of the educators
themselves. It is true that nothing can be achieved without hard work
and dedication. But what to say of not getting the deserved due even
after following the much-toiled career path? It has been rightly said:
Men
for the sake of getting a living, forget to live.
This holds
true especially in the present times marked by large-scale unemployment,
competition, and dissatisfaction. This is an unfortunate condition where
a person can gain nothing and reach nowhere without a struggle. When a
man is engrossed in and perturbed by the process of getting employment
and is dissatisfied even after getting so, he may live but won’t be
spirited or living satisfactorily. The difference between the two is to
be acknowledged and dealt with.
There is considerable unrest among the education providers -the
contractual lecturers, often wrongly referred to as ‘adhocs’. The
government, on the basis of academic arrangement, has appointed these
lecturers in the colleges. Working like ‘daily wagers’ with the wages or
without any hope of getting permanent appointments in the near future,
they are being exploited by the government in more than one way. There
are a whole lot of these lecturers who have been serving the educational
institutions in for years altogether without any job security. Some have
lost hope of getting a permanent job despite being in service for even
decades! Agreed that patience is a virtue and good things in life often
take time. But how long? What is not being considered is the fact that
without having a job security and satisfaction, this is going to have a
negative impact on the motivational aspect of these jobholders. Until
the needs of a human being are satisfied in a proper manner and he is
positively motivated, he cannot be expected to produce and perform well.
There is a requirement for the teaching staff in the colleges and
schools in huge numbers as is glaringly evident from the number of
contractual appointments made in the government colleges and schools.
Their number even exceeds that of the permanent lecturers. So, there is
no question of overstaffing. Abundant talented and capable human
resources are available and utilized by the government but not cared
for. The posts are to be filled but are not being advertised by the
Public Service Commission. There are no advertisements of the posts in
the subjects (like social sciences, languages, and natural sciences)
where the candidates are fully qualified, having passed the
much-required NET or SLET. Then, there are certain subjects (like
English, Management Studies, etc.) where it is extremely difficult to
qualify NET as well as SLET, the reason being the diverse field of
study. The vested interests of the government are always there, as they
are to benefit from it, especially financially. Making them work as, or
even more than, the regular/permanent staff, the government benefits
from paying them lesser salary and no perks/benefits. Also, no salary is
given specifically to them for the summer and winter vacations.
To add to this is the injustice in the form of unrecognition. The
contractual lecturers have been slogging for years not only for monetary
benefits but also for gaining experience as it has become a much sought
after criteria for selection and placements in organizations. But when
the PSC decides not to give any weight-age or recognition to the
teaching experience of these contractual lecturers (who seem to be
unaware of this fact), all effort is in vain. What do these teachers
gain except for much deferred salaries? Salaries which they receive
after the teaching session is over. And what do they lose? Hope, job
security, job satisfaction, and motivation to work hard, enthusiasm for
such a noble profession…the points can be countless.
The importance that these issues should have for the government can be
gathered from one of the quotes of the former Prime Minister, Mr. Atal
Bihari Vajpayee:
“Teachers’ views must be given importance in education, planning,
and parents and communities should be made more responsive about the
schools in the midst.”
This issue
can be resolved collectively. A beginning could be made by the formation
of an effective union of contractual lecturers and a formal recognition
can be sought from the government. It would aid the lecturers in their
representation at the higher levels. The new government should take note
of it. By resolving this matter and giving it the much-deserved
attention, the government can undo what has been done in the past. It
can give fresh hope to the despaired employees and citizens. Due
recognition has to be given to the worth and work of man. Justice must
not only be done but also appear to be done. This should not only mark a
new chapter in politics but also in the field of education and
sociology. The power lies with the new government. They should use it
wisely. With humility.
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Justice
is the basic requirement for any human being and his society. It
provides the required motivation to work, to succeed, to prosper, to
develop, and to excel. Whenever the right and honor of man is encroached
upon, there exists some unrest in the society. No matter how small the
affected segment is, the consequences can have a major impact on the
entire society. If unheeded, it may lead to a rebellion; and should
rightly do so. A society that becomes prone to injustice and corruption
simply cannot advance or excel, as backwardness and failure becomes its
fate. To quote Benjamin Franklin:
