Mangaluru: Former member of the Mangalore University Syndicate, S R Harish Acharya, is contesting as an independent candidate for the legislative council from the South West Teachers’ constituency. He announced on Thursday that, if elected, he is committed to presenting a private Bill exclusively for the welfare of teachers in the state. Acharya emphasized that the current Karnataka Civil Services Rules are inadequate for addressing the problems faced by teachers.
Acharya highlighted the ongoing issues in the education sector and the persistent problems of teachers, including a significant number of vacant teaching posts across the state. He has consulted with experts, including teachers and advocates, to prepare the private Bill, which will propose solutions for various issues concerning teachers, guest teachers, and teachers working on contract in the state.
Key points of the proposed Bill include increasing the contract period for teachers from 11 months to 36 months, granting women teachers an additional five casual leaves, and providing life insurance and health insurance for teachers. Acharya also stressed the importance of prioritizing education by minimizing the assignment of teachers to non-educational duties, such as poll duties.
In response to a query about his decision to run as a rebel candidate against the BJP, Acharya stated that his candidacy is focused solely on addressing the issues faced by teachers.