``When proposals for awardees were sent out, the preconditions clearly stated that those who wished to apply should not have been received similar awards at the civic, taluka or district level,'' said J Kamble, chairperson of the Prathmik Shikshak Sanghatana Samanvay Samiti. ``However, most of those who were felicitated at the function are those who are recommended every time teachers are felicitated or rewarded,'' he added. ``Instead of motivating the staff, this creates ill-feeling.'' The KDMC has 102 civic schools, with 968 teachers.

In a memorandum submitted to civic commissioner Madhukar Kokate, the teachers have also alleged that the chairperson of the eduction committee, Uday Samant of the Shiv Sena, threatensthem at meetings, advising them against ``getting on the wrong side of a Sainik''. Their other demands include the publicising the seniority list, filling up 13 posts for headmasters, promoting the graduates among teachers to education supervisors, paying graduates as per government pay-scales, settling dues for personnel who retire before the last day of service, and lessening the load of dividing schools which have a strength of more than a 1,000 pupils. Diwakar Raote, state education minister, who was supposed to be present at the function, couldn't attend. Those who did attend include commissioner Madhukar Kokate, mayor Sharayu Pradhan, leader of opposition Padmakar Kulkarni and chairperson of KDMC education committee Uday Sawant.

Pradhan declared that those teachers who boycotted the programme ``be suspended with immediate effect.'' Claimed Samant: ``Our friends are being misled by some politicians who are interested in creating a wedge between the teachers to serve their vested interests.'' Theteachers were actually opposed to his attempts to monitor their actual contribution and increase accountablitiy, he stated.