Freezing Nights, Inadequate Meals, Toilet Queues: Why Chhattisgarh’s Women Teachers Refuse to Give Up

Raipur – Imagine braving icy cold pond water for a morning bath, enduring hunger with inadequate meals, and waiting in interminable toilet queues—all while battling the bitter chill of winter. This isn’t a fictional tale but the harsh and heartbreaking reality of Chhattisgarh’s assistant women teachers. Their ongoing fight for justice and job security is a remarkable display of resilience, while simultaneously exposing glaring shortcomings in the government system.

The livelihoods of 2,897 B.Ed-trained assistant teachers hang in the balance. On December 10, the Chhattisgarh High Court issued a directive prioritizing D.Ed. (Diploma in Education) candidates over B.Ed. (Bachelor of Education) candidates for primary school teaching positions.

The order called for the termination of B.Ed. assistant teachers’ services, asserting that only D.Ed. candidates were eligible for these roles. The court further directed the state to appoint D.Ed. candidates within two weeks.

For over three weeks, hundreds of these educators have been protesting at Raipur’s Tuta protest site, with women making up nearly half of the demonstrators. Most of the affected teachers are from tribal communities, where government jobs are a vital source of economic and social security. 

Crowded into a few community halls, these women, some with their young children in tow, are enduring severe hardships. While juggling the challenges of basic survival, they actively participate in protests alongside their male counterparts, organizing communal meals, washing dishes, and managing daily logistics.

Piercing winds and freezing nights render even the warmest woolens and blankets insufficient, leaving them shivering as they brave the unforgiving winter. Preparing two meals a day for hundreds is a daunting task, and when food falls short, they often have to endure nights with half-empty stomachs. The struggle extends to basic necessities—standing in long lines for toilets, a routine worsened during menstruation when changing and disposing of sanitary products becomes yet another challenge. Despite these trials, their faces radiate determination, and their spirit to fight for justice remains unyielding.

This movement has also seen tragedy. Hema Singh, a young teacher from Janjgir-Champa, lost her life in a road accident three months ago while returning from Kondagaon, where she had submitted a memorandum to the district collector. Her father, Devnarayan Singh, recently visited the protest site, offering blessings to the demonstrators. With tear-filled eyes, he declared, “These are all my children.”

Stories like these confront us with a pressing question: Has the government become so indifferent that it fails to see the suffering of these women? Are their appeals for justice and regularization lost on the Chief Minister’s office, or has the government willfully turned a blind eye to their plight?

More than 500 women teachers are currently staying in community halls and rented hotels.

Mamta Negi from Bhatigarh in Gariaband district shared her plight with The Mooknayak, stating, "Our jobs were not just a means of livelihood but a source of dignity and self-respect. However, the government has pushed us into unemployment by terminating our services."

For the past 28 days, Mamta has been relentlessly protesting at the Tuta demonstration site. Describing the harsh conditions, she said, "Over 600 people are staying here with access to just two bathrooms. We have to line up for bathing and drinking water as early as 4 AM. Despite these hardships, we remain hopeful that the government will finally listen to us."

She further added, "If our jobs are not reinstated, the despair will haunt us forever. We won’t have the confidence to pursue further studies or even think about another job. Reluctantly, our families will pressure us into marriage, and we will lose faith in the government entirely. It will always sadden us that, despite being selected on merit, serving for a year, and being innocent, we were caught in political crossfires and unjustly stripped of our jobs."

Mamta highlighted the lack of basic amenities at the protest site. "There are mattresses to sleep on, but not enough blankets to shield us from the cold. We struggle to get proper sleep due to the freezing temperatures. Yet, we stand firm, determined to protect our future and our self-respect."

Neelam Mandavi, a 24-year-old from Charama in Kanker district, shared the dire conditions at the protest site. “The number of people here is so large that there’s a severe lack of sleeping space and basic facilities. We are forced to bathe in the open despite the cold weather. Due to the shortage of toilets, we have to stand in long queues every morning. Many women have brought their young children along, who are enduring this harsh winter as part of our struggle.”

She added, “Sometimes, we only have rice and lentils to eat, and there are days when we go to bed half hungry. Yet, we remain resolute, enduring these hardships with courage and patience, hoping the government takes our future seriously.”

Neelam also reflected on the unexpected duration of the protest: “We had no idea this sit-in would last so long. Most of us brought only enough supplies for one or two days. Now it has been over a month, and we are struggling without warm clothes, sharing whatever we have with each other. We hold on to hope, believing that since we did nothing wrong, no injustice will ultimately befall us.”

Suman Gangasagar, 28, from Kondagaon, lives in a family of five and remains unmarried. She explained, “Though there is accommodation in community halls, water shortages force us to go outside for bathing or basic hygiene needs. Using open spaces for defecation feels unsafe, but there’s no other option. The food arrangements are decent—rice, lentils, and vegetables are usually served—but occasionally, when supplies run low, we manage with rice and pickles.”

Suman expressed deep disillusionment with the justice system, stating, “If our jobs are not reinstated, I will lose all faith in this system. Speaking of the future, I have no hope that the government will open up new vacancies, let alone in a timely manner. The mental toll of this ordeal has been overwhelming, making it nearly impossible for me to prepare for future job opportunities. If I lose my job, both my family and I will consider giving up our voting rights entirely.”

Mamta Dhruv, hailing from Arjunda in Balod district, currently shares a small room with 11 other teachers. Speaking to The Mooknayak, she shared her frustration and disappointment: “We pursued B.Ed. and cleared the teacher recruitment exams after seeing the official gazette notification and recruitment advertisements of Chhattisgarh. We secured our positions based on merit. There was no mention of any court case during the recruitment process. We worked hard, followed all the rules, and earned our jobs rightfully. Despite this, the government has terminated us, citing legal issues, leaving us in this dire situation.

“The government holds immense power and can resolve this issue by reinstating us. It is this hope and trust that keeps us going as we voice our concerns through protests. We firmly believe that the government will accommodate us eventually.”

At the protest site, many participants, including women, are on hunger strike. The adverse weather and prolonged fasting have taken a toll on their health, with some falling severely ill. In such cases, fellow protesters take them to the hospital as there is no ambulance service available at the site. Teachers report that while medical staff visit once or twice a day to check on those on hunger strike, the government has shown no significant concern. No public representative has visited them to address their grievances.

Tarani Nayak, a resident of Mainpur in Gariaband district, is among the hundreds of terminated teachers fighting for reinstatement. With seven members in her family, her teaching job was a major financial support. At just 25 years of age, Tarani faces a bleak future. When asked about her plans if the government does not reinstate them, she expressed her despair:

"If we are not accommodated, I will lose all faith in government jobs. There is no backup plan. For unmarried teachers like me, the pressure from family to get married will increase, and my dream of becoming self-reliant and building a career will remain unfulfilled."

The protests have brought additional hardships, especially for teachers with young children. Varsha, one of the protesting teachers, shared, “Adults somehow manage to fill their stomachs with whatever is available, but what about the children? They cry with hunger, and in this freezing cold, there’s no arrangement to warm milk for them at night. We can bear our pain, but seeing our children suffer is unbearable."

The teachers have left no stone unturned to peacefully bring their grievances to the government’s attention. Speaking to The Mooknayak, they shared the timeline of their protest, which began on December 14 with a “humble appeal” march. Since then, they have organized sit-ins, silent protests, community service activities like cleanliness drives, khichdi distribution, rituals like mundan (head shaving), water immersion protests, hunger strikes, rallies, and even symbolic funeral marches.

“When the rest of the country was celebrating the New Year, we were handed termination orders,” said one of the teachers. “What is our fault? The government has remained silent while we and our families suffer. We will continue our protest until our demands are met. We only ask the government to show empathy and reinstate us as B.Ed-qualified assistant teachers.”

The plight of the teachers has also drawn their parents to the protest sites. One mother, who joined her daughter at the protest, said, “How can I sit at home while my child endures this hardship in an unfamiliar place with strangers in this cold weather? As a mother, I will stay here until the government delivers justice to our children.”

The teachers demand that the state government find a solution to accommodate them following the Supreme Court and High Court orders leading to their termination. They argue that the government has the power to resolve the issue and save their jobs.

As the protest intensifies, the teachers hope that the government will take swift action to address their demands and provide them with the security of employment they rightfully earned.