GenZ yatra reaches Raebareli demanding school reopening and teacher recruitment

A rally demanding improvements in education and employment opportunities arrived in Raebareli as part of the GenZ Mahajutan Yatra currently underway across Uttar Pradesh. The yatra reached the city and saw participation from multiple student and political organizations who voiced concerns over school closures, teacher shortages, and unemployment.

Comrade Neha, national president of the All India Students' Association (AISA), addressed the gathering and said that this yatra is not just a journey but a mobilization against the policy of commercializing education through the National Education Policy NEP 2020. She said government schools are being shut down so that the poor, Dalits, tribals, Muslims and girls can be kept out of education. She stated that they are fighting to save schools and to ensure teachers, laboratories and libraries in every school.

The yatra, which started from Allahabad, traveled through Banaras, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya and Lucknow before arriving in Raebareli. Office-bearers and workers from AISA, CPI (ML), Inquilabi Naujawan Sabha and other organizations joined the rally.

During a meeting held in the Vikas Bhavan premises, Comrade Manish Kumar, Uttar Pradesh president of AISA, said that lakhs of teaching posts are vacant in UP but the government is not conducting recruitments. He added that student unions are banned in universities so that students cannot raise the question of employment. He said this mahajutan is linking education and employment as two parts of one struggle.

Hanoman Ambedkar, district secretary of CPI, said that the condition of residential schools and primary schools in Raebareli is very poor. He said hostels in residential schools are not safe. Electricity is missing in some places while there is a shortage of teachers in others. He pointed out that toilets and furniture are absent in primary schools and corruption in mid-day meals is at a record level. He said that today we have to come forward to save our schools.

Dr. Ram Kumar Nishad and Arun Yadav also expressed their views. Dushyant Kumar, convener of AISA, expressed gratitude to everyone. The proceedings were conducted by Uday Patel, district secretary of Inquilabi Naujawan Sabha.