Hyderabad: About 700 teachers of ashram schools were arrested by the Punjagutta police while protesting at Pragathi Bhavan, the camp office of the Chief Minister, against the Tribal Welfare Board for not renewing their contracts.
They said the board had not extended the contract of a total of 1,936 teachers. They were arrested under CrPC Section 151 as a preventive measure.
They said they had helped improve the pass percentage in tribal welfare schools from 15 per cent to 85 per cent in the last decade.
Mr Shoban Naik, Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch leader, said, “We demand the renewal of contracts of the teachers and regularisation of their jobs. About 15 contract teachers from ashram schools have committed suicide due to financial issues.
The state has 283 ashram schools in tribal areas including 187 for boys and 96 for girls.
