Darjeeling’s BJP MP Raju Bista has expressed his anguish on the state government’s decision to recruit the entire teaching and non-teaching staff of the new Eklavya Model Residential School in Kalimpong on contract.

The office of the project officer-cum-district welfare officer of the backward classes welfare department on Monday issued a notification to recruit eight teaching staff and eight non-teaching staff.

The teaching staff are the teacher-in-charge, assistant teachers for English, Nepali, mathematics, history, science, geography and a teacher for computers.

The non-teaching staff are the superintendent of hostel, matron, clerk, attendant, cook, helper, sweeper and night guard.

The last date to submit application forms is April 26.

The EMRS are a chain of institutions started by the Union ministry of tribalaffairs in areas and managed by state EMRS societies through a district-level committee which is headed by the district magistrate and other officials.

Bista has accused the state government of “discriminatory attitude.”

“As can be seen, the WB Govt is hiring for all posts on a “Contract Basis.” In no other state in India, hiring for Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is done on such contractual basis. In Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars though the WB Govt has chosen to once again jeopardise the future of our qualified youths through this practice. This is another example of the West Bengal government trying to destroy the educational system in our region,” said Bista in a written statement.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 16 crore for the Kalimpong institution.

A Bengal official said that the state government couldn’t divert from the central guidelines issued to all state governments.

“So my understanding is that the decision to appoint contractual teachers is not illegal,” said the official, who, however, refused to comment further on the state’s policy decision.