Bhubaneswar: With the failing of a fresh talks between state government and agitating block grant teachers, the latter have decided to continue their strike, which entreated into second day Friday.
Earlier, a delegation of the Orissa School College Teachers’ and Employees United Forum held a discussion with Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi this evening in connection with their demands. The talks, however, failed and the striking teachers decided to continue with their stir. The teachers are demanding complete abolition of the grant-in-aid (GIS) system and roll back of the decision to take an affidavit from the teachers on their service conditions.
Other demands of the teachers’ body include equal pay for equal work and implementation of the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. The agitating teachers have also warned to boycott annual Matric and Plus-II examinations if their demands are not considered sympathetically at the earliest.
The teachers association said unless the government issues a notification with regard to fulfilling their demands, they will continue their protest.
It may be mentioned that the state government had announced abolition of block grant system replacing it with grant-in-aid for the teachers October 22 last year. The government also asked the teachers to enter into an agreement with certain conditions, which has irked the latter.
The Higher Education Minister Ananta Das Friday urged the striking teachers and staff of schools and colleges to resume their duties in the interest of students.
“The teachers sitting on dharna at Lower PMG should withdraw stir immediately. They should come to the table for discussion and resolve issues. But their demand for roll back of the proposed affidavit does not seem to have much significance.”
As the agitating teachers threatened to take their fight to bye-poll-bound Bijepur in Bargarh district and apprise the voters there against the state government, Das said such stance was illegal and violation of their service conditions.
“The teacher brethren ought to educate the society and mend the wrong ways adopted by anyone in the society. Being government servants, it is illegal to campaign either in favour of or against a political party. Even announcing such a step publicly was also illegal,” Das told reporters.
Convener of teachers’ association Golak Nayak said, “The statement of the Minister is laughable. He only knows to rule with a vindictive attitude. He has perhaps forgotten to provide employment and feed someone’s belly with love and affection. Rather he (minister) should try to fulfill the aim and objective of the Chief Minister.”
PNN