Seventy-seven teachers of East Singhbhum state-aided minority institutions protested on Saturday at the district education department office, saying they were waiting for salaries since the day they were appointed.

These teachers from 24 aided minority schools were recruited and appointed between 2008 and 2016 but never received any pay. Every time they undergo a screening process as a formality to get salaries, but the pay never comes, they said. This is the fifth time in a row that their documents and credentials were being screened by education officials, they said.

The condition is same for such teachers in the entire state, they said. There are around 2,800 such teachers across all 24 districts.

Protesting teachers added that they got no pay despite constant assurances from education officials and chief minister Raghubar Das whom they met on February 11. They also met Binod Kumar, director of primary education, who led the eight-member team for screening on Saturday.

“We spend our time, energy and efforts to educate students but so far the state department has not paid us. Every time we raise the issue, they constitute a panel for screening. How many times do they need to screen our credentials,” said Prabhas Chandra Singh, a teacher of SS Gujarati Middle School, Bistupur.

Another colleague said this no-pay system cost many dearly, pointing to one Snehalata Barla from Khalsa Middle School who “lost her only daughter as she could not afford her medical treatment”.

Sarita Kumari, a teacher of Vivekananda High School, Bistupur, said she had been working for five years without salary, paying out of own pocket for her commute. “I thought working as a teacher can help my family financially. Not only did that not happen, I have to foot my travel bill. We keep working as we keep getting promises. For how long?”

The teachers said the day they went to meet CM Das, he asked his officials to expedite the matter. “What did officials do? They formed a panel for screening for the fifth time,” said an angry teacher.

Prodded, director of primary education Kumar said, “These things don’t happen overnight. They will surely be done. Protesting is no solution.”