Spreading the Voices Gram Vaani Community Media
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Jharkhand Mobile Vaani- Spreading the Voices Gram Vaani Community Media What is Jharkhand Mobile Vaani? Para Teachers Mobilize State wide strike using Jharkhand Mobile Vaani A Social media platform for In the state of Jharkhand, Para-teachers disobedience and start a state-wide communities who have no of the Government schools rallied sup- strike. access to media port to fight for increase in their salary However, after repeated warnings Runs off any mobile phone levels using Jharkhand Mobile Vaani there was no response to their de- (JMV) platform. Para-teachers are Free of cost medium: Based mands. Owing to a cold reaction from teaching assistants who aid the work of on call back system the Government the Union members permanent teachers in Government from the Bokaro district decided to Voice based platform schools. In the rural areas of Jharkhand, declare a state-wide strike. Receiving Easy to access even for due to high rates of teacher absenteeism, bleak coverage in the mainstream poorly literate Para-teachers shoulder the entire re- media they began to publicize the sponsibility of imparting education to the Extensive reach in rural strategy and updates related to their students in the government schools. areas strike on JMV. Many conveyed their Their demands pertained to increment in resentment towards the indifferent salaries and other entitlements on ac- attitude and failing promises of the count of a significant gap between their Government authorities to address the salaries and workload at school. Strike mobilization on JMV issue. Para-teachers started voicing their Outreach 10,00 families This trend caught attention of Para discontentment on the JMV platform 30,000 teachers from the districts of Giridih posted on JMV, an MLA joined the fight Total number of regarding low levels of salary since July and Dhanbad, who followed suit and for the rights of the teachers by calls 2012. Thousands of Para-teachers called started sharing meeting and strike marching a ‘Padyatra’. 200 in leaving messages that their salaries Number of items updates on JMV. During the Para were meager corresponding to the published Teacher’s Union meetings on the dis- Constant Updates made by public on amount of work they do and were insuffi- various meetings and awareness Duration 1st Jul– 31st Oct trict and the state level, the informa- cient to support their families. They ex- rallies such as motorcycle rallies, 13 tion and updates related to strikes No. of Districts pressed that such factors were a huge spread like viral across the state. meetings, fasts, siege MLAs, were demotivation to carry out their duties. Districts covered Soon updates and comments started shared on JMV and were openly avail- able to the multitude on JMV platform Initially Para teachers from Bokaro dis- pouring in JMV from other districts of Dhanbad, Bokaro, Giridih, Deoghar, free of charge. Through JMV platform, Ranchi, Seraikella-Kharsawan, Latehar, trict started leaving messages in JMV Jharkhand. Para- teachers from 13 districts of Chatra, Khunti, Koderma, Ramgarh, giving warnings to government that if Hazaribagh, and Sahibganj The messages on JMV brought many Jharkhand came together and mobi- their demands for an increment in sala- together to join the cause of Para- lized the strike all across the state. ries and other entitlements were not met teachers. According to a unique story with, they will hold fasts, practice civil Jharkhand Mobile Vaani- Spreading the Voices Page 2 Distressed Parents break their silence on JMV The strike of Para-teachers caused about schools where the entire school disruption in the school system and all the classes are system and panic among run and handled by Para student’s parents. On teachers alone due to teacher JMV, the Parents of absenteeism and non appoint- students voiced their ment of headmasters and The extensive reach of the JMV plat- concern about how this teachers. JMV became the form- a no charge mobile based social turn of events will affect medium for parents to express media platform for the marginalized, their children who have their vexation on the indefinite became a medium for populace to no other means to get an strike since it was affecting share their views and communicate education. their children’s future. unbounded. It enabled the voices of people to reach out to the masses and Many shared information unite in purpose. on JMV about poor infra- structure of schools and dismal stu- dent to teacher ratios. They reported The extensive reach of JMV Story Page the JMV platform- a no Action Plan for Para Teachers’ Birni Para Teacher Chairperson All Para Teachers on Strike, re- charge mobile based Indefinite Strike – by K.C. Thakur shares updates on strike ports of rift false social media platform Kailash Chandra Thakur, the Bokaro District Birni Block, Giridih, Para Teachers Association Promod Singh from Pirtand block, Giridih for the marginalized, Spokesman for Para-Teachers called up to Chairperson, Gangadhar Ravidas spoke on JMV district called up to inform the Jharkhand became a medium for inform the listeners of JMV about the collective about their strike and the protest related Association for Para Teachers that all the Para strike of all the Para-Teachers of Jharkhand, events. Today they conducted inspection in Teachers are on strike and requested the media populace to share their starting from 28th August 2012. He further various school premises in Markodi Sankul and not to spread rumors that Para teachers from informed that in this context, a meeting of the found that all the schools are closed. No classes across Jharkhand have not joined the protest views and communicate Kasmar block Para Teachers took place in Vinod are taking place. Tomorrow, 47 para teachers fully. He also extended his sympathies to the unbounded. Behari Smarak Mahavidyala, Mandira, Kasmar. In are planning a siege around the local MLA, Vinod parents of the children who are missing out on this meeting the action plan for the upcoming Singh's house, another attempt at making their education, but told them that they are forced to protest was discussed and decided upon. voices heard and their presence felt. go on protest due to the indifferent attitude of the Government towards the Para Teachers. http://voice.gramvaani.org/vapp/mnews/10/ http://voice.gramvaani.org/vapp/mnews/10/ http://voice.gramvaani.org/vapp/mnews/10/ show/detail/22589/ show/detail/22661/ show/detail/22880/ Dumri Block people support Para- Student's feedback on Para- teachers rally Teachers Strike Tarkeshwar Mahto from Dumri block, Giridih Karormal Kumar, a school student from Dumri called up to report about the overwhelming Tand Village, Latehar district called up to support of villagers and local leaders received provide his feedback on the Para Teachers by Para Teachers in their area. Detailing on the strike. He says that in the absence of para matter he informed about the rally that the Para teachers, all the students keep on playing for Teachers held in order to make everyone aware the entire day. He is worried as to how the about their demands. They were very happy to syllabus would be completed as the rich some- see local leaders and villagers supporting them. how manage to arrange for the tuitions for their On the occasion, the legislator of Dumri block children, but the poor people already live on also spoke about the justified demands of the limited means. para teachers. Mahto called JMR to thank all the people who came out in the open to support http://voice.gramvaani.org/vapp/mnews/10/ their demands and took part in the rally. show/detail/22880/ http://voice.gramvaani.org/vapp/mnews/10/ show/detail/23020/ .