Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) has lashed out at the Congress-led Sukhu government for its decision to recruit guest lecturers in government schools and colleges.
With over 12,000 teaching positions lying vacant across the state, the party has termed the move a “betrayal” of the educated youth and a glaring example of the government's failure to address unemployment.
CPI-M Secretary Sanjay Chauhan criticized the policy, stating, “This decision is nothing but an exploitation of the young and talented workforce".
"The Sukhu government is blindly following the Modi government’s agenda by implementing the New Education Policy, which undermines the quality of education and public services.”
According to Chauhan, the situation is critical, with more than 8 lakh educated youths currently unemployed in the state.
Many of them have cleared competitive exams such as UGC-NET and TET, only to find themselves overlooked in favor of temporary appointments.
“Instead of offering secure, permanent jobs, the government is pushing guest lecturer positions that provide neither stability nor dignity,” Chauhan added.
The party also took a swipe at the recently introduced Himachal Pradesh Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Government Employees Bill, 2024.
Referring to Supreme Court rulings, Chauhan pointed out that contractual services are often considered for seniority, pension, and increments, but the new legislation disregards these provisions.
He accused the government of hastily drafting the bill without considering its long-term implications on employees’ rights.
The CPI-M highlighted that back in 1974, when Himachal Pradesh had a population of 36 lakh, the government employed 1.76 lakh workers.
Today, despite the population more than doubling, the number of government employees has barely increased to 1.86 lakh. “This staffing shortfall is crippling public services,” said Chauhan.
The party demanded an immediate rollback of the guest lecturer policy and the contentious bill, calling for a robust recruitment drive to fill all vacant posts with permanent appointments.
“Education and healthcare are the backbone of any progressive society. The Sukhu government must stop compromising these critical sectors and ensure that no school, college, or healthcare institution remains understaffed,” Chauhan asserted.
