Retired teachers of the Zilla Parishad have threatened a symbolic “Bhik Mango Andolan” (Begging Bowl Protest) on Teachers’ Day, September 5, 2025, at Constitution Square, Nagpur.
They allege that the state government has deliberately ignored their repeated appeals and failed to release nearly ₹100 crore in rightful dues despite continuous follow-up for more than 18 months.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Shikshak Shikshaketar Sena (MNSS Sena) submitted a memorandum through Resident Deputy Collector Anup Khande, addressed to Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur, Devendra Fadnavis.
The delegation demanded urgent intervention, accusing the government of denying retirees their gratuity, leave encashment, and final settlement of group insurance benefits.
According to the union, more than 400 retired teachers are suffering because of these delays. Each individual is awaiting between ₹25 and ₹30 lakh, pending for the last one-and-a-half years. With new retirements every month, the backlog grows by another ₹1 to 1.25 crore monthly, pushing many families into financial distress.
The delegation comprised state general secretary Mahesh Joshi, senior leader Sharad Bhandarkar, divisional secretary Devidas Kalane, district secretary Manoj Ghodke, and city secretary Nitin Kite. Other members included Janardan Savai, Sudhir Sonatakke, Dilip Shende, Praveen Meshram, Vijay Deolkar, Sanjay Ukande, and Chandrakant Masurkar.
The teachers’ body has placed three firm demands before the government. First, the ₹100 crore arrears must be released immediately, with interest. Second, a monthly advance fund of ₹1 crore should be provided to Zilla Parishads to ensure timely settlement for newly retiring teachers.
Third, the pending group insurance settlement should be cleared after salary verification, also with interest.
Union leaders launched a direct attack on the government’s apathy. “After decades of service in classrooms, we are now forced to beg for our rightful dues.
This is not only injustice but an outright insult to the teaching community,” said Mahesh Joshi. Others warned that if the authorities fail to act, the agitation will intensify beyond symbolic protests.
By staging the protest on Teachers’ Day, the association wants to expose the irony of the state celebrating educators publicly while denying them their rights privately.
The “begging bowl protest,” leaders said, is their last attempt to draw attention to the humiliation and betrayal felt by senior teachers who spent their lives shaping society.
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