Shimla, May 5 -- Over the past ten days, hundreds of primary school teachers from across Himachal Pradesh have been staging a continuous chain hunger strike and Dharna outside the Directorate of Education in Shimla.

Led by the Government Primary Teachers Association, the protest is in response to a slew of recent government decisions, most notably the controversial merger of the Primary and Higher Education Directorates, mass suspension of teachers, and the registration of FIRs against nearly 900 educators.

"We are committed to improving the quality of education, but not at the cost of our rights and dignity," said Pramod Chauhan, District President, Shimla.

The teachers say their promotional pathways and administrative autonomy are un...