Bhubaneswar: With the state getting ready for the winter session, a group of teachers is planning a protest November 19 to draw attention of the state government towards their issues.
Currently, two teachers’ associations – Orissa Primary Teachers’ Association (OPTA) and the Orissa Sikshya Sahayak Association (OSA) – are on strike demanding a hike in their grade pay. The teachers association Saturday decided to change their strategy as the School and Mass Education department has been ignoring their protests.
According to sources, more than one lakh teachers from 58,000 institutions will stay away from work from November 19 onwards.
“We have already started our indefinite strike demanding a hike in grade pay from Rs 2,200 to 2,800. This apart, we are demanding the abolition of ‘Sikshya Sahayak’ posts and introduction of junior teacher rank instead. Accordingly, more teachers will join the protest November 19,” said M Jena, president, OSA.
Meanwhile, sources in the education department informed Orissa POST that they are planning to have a meeting with protesting teachers.
The striking teaches, however, are not in a mood to call off the strike unless their demands are met.
“We had several rounds of discussions with the government and the officials of the education department. Although, we are ready for another discussion, we will not call off the strike till the demands are fulfilled,” added Jena. PNN
