Post news network
Bhubaneswar: About 72,000 Sikshya Sahayaks have launched an indefinite strike to highlight the government apathy towards their demands of pay hike and job regularization and also the red-tapism and mismanagement in the department of school and mass education.
Sikshya Sahayaks are appointed on contractual basis for teaching students of Class I-VIII. They get a salary of Rs 5,200 per month and do not have any grade pay like the high school contract teachers.
“The department does not follow any salary structure and does not offer grade pay for Sikshya Sahayaks,” said Sunil Pradhan, president, Odisha Sikshya Sahayak Association (OSSA). “The association had a discussion with government on this issue and the government requested one-month time for taking an appropriate decision. However, we decided to go for an indefinite strike till we get justice,” said Pradhan.
The teachers will be given permanent appointments after completing six years of service but till that time the department does not offer any social security, he pointed out.
“We don’t have any social security and if something happens to us our families will not get any aid from the department. Moreover, the mismanagement in the department will hamper the implementation of the Right to Education Act in the state,” said Arta Bhajan Sahoo, secretary general, OSSA.
Biswanath Pradhan, additional secretary, department of school and mass education, said the department is aware of the situation and a decision in this regard will be taken soon. “The department is aware of the issue and the issues addressed by OSSA will be addressed,” Pradhan said.