Mumbai: While most people were busy celebrating Diwali with their families and relatives, primary teachers from different schools of the Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE) marched in a silent protest to the Archbishop’s House in Mumbai. The teachers were seeking clearance of arrears allegedly due since 2005.

Ruiee Kapoor, one of the ABE teacher said, “We have marched silently today to Archbishop’s house to demand our long pending arrears. We have approached the ABE and even to our education minister Vinod Tawde. They are sleeping over the issues. We will wait even until evening to meet president Cardinal Oswald Gracias.”

Almost 150 teachers of ABE from different schools joined the silent protest to demand their arrears from the board. These are sixth pay commission arrears pending from 2005 to 2015, reported DNA.

Zelda Viji, another teacher of ABE, said, “There are many primary teachers in different schools of ABE who are waiting for the arrears. There are also teachers who are retired and still haven’t got their arrears from the ABE.”

Another retired primary ABE teacher said, “My husband lost his job after he met with an accident in 2000. I was the only earning member of the family and got retired this June. I worked for 38 years in ABE school and is waiting for my arrears which is around Rs 8 lakh”. Meanwhile, responding to the issues, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, said, “ I am not aware of their problems. The teachers should discuss this with the ABE Secretary Fr.Athaide.”