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For over four months now, nearly 1000 contract teachers in Palghar Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools have been working without pay, causing them anxiety as Diwali approaches. These teachers, appointed on a contractual basis since June, have not received salaries for most of the academic term.  Palghar district has approximately 2200 primary schools, many of which rely on contract staff.

Borrowing to survive

The lack of income has forced dedicated educators into debt just to cover basic living expenses. “We haven’t received a single salary since joining on June 1. The delay has been unbearable. Many of us live in rented houses far from school, and travelling daily without pay is impossible. Our condition is very bad,” said a teacher, on condition of anonymity, who is posted at one of the ZP schools in Palghar district.

Another teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, highlighted the emotional toll. “We are borrowing money from friends to survive. Diwali is around the corner, but we don’t know if we’ll get our salaries in time to celebrate. It feels like a black Diwali for us.” The teachers, who earn between Rs 16,000 and Rs 20,000 a month, said managing rent, food, loan payments, and their children’s education has become very difficult. They have already raised the issue with the chief executive officer but have received no relief.

Rs 9.4 crore pending

According to sources, around Rs 9.4 crore in salary arrears — covering the period from June to September — is currently pending. Recently, around Rs 1.61 crore was released but remains in the district treasury. Confirming the issue, Palghar Zilla Parishad CEO Manoj Ranade assured mid-day that the process of releasing the pending amount was underway.

“About 1000 teachers are yet to receive their salaries. They have already been paid one month`s salary last week. Funds for the next two months have been sent to the taluka and will be received in a day or two. The remaining three months’ salaries will be deposited shortly. We are trying our best to ensure teachers are paid before Diwali.”

Ranade attributed the prolonged delay to teething troubles with the new contract setup, suggesting the issue was not unique to Palghar. “This is a new department for contract teachers. It’s taking time to set up, and the heads are also new,” he explained. “Grants are delayed not just in Palghar but across Maharashtra. Such things happen initially.”

But for the teachers who have been working diligently since the start of the academic year, the explanation provides little comfort. “For us every day is a struggle,” said one teacher quietly.