Bhubaneswar: In view of the lukewarm approach of the administration towards their condition, the agitating block grant teachers are planning to launch a state-wide protest in the coming days.
Significantly, around 30,000 block grant teachers and employees from across the state who came to the city Monday expecting that the government would take some major decisions with regard to their stir. Although the government last week assured the teachers that they will have another meeting with them Monday, this meeting did not take place. “We didn’t get any invitation from the government or education department for the meeting. However, official sources stated that they would invite us for a meeting Tuesday,” said Golak Nayak, president, Orissa School College Teachers and Employees United Forum (OSCTEUF).
With more than 60,000 teachers and employees from around 5,000 block grant institutions staying away from work, the protest has affected 14 lakh students in the state. But, the teachers made it clear they will not call off the strike till they got assurance regarding the abolition of block grant.
“We will not call off the strike till the government decides to scrap the block grant system. So, we are expecting a major decision and not some assurances,” added Nayak.
However, the challenge for the government is the financial liability. The government will have to bear a financial burden of `800 crore if it abolishes block grant system. But, the strike has already got out of hand and several political parties and student unions have offered their support.
“We have been raising this issue for a long time and we are working without any job security or allowances. So, only the abolition of block grant system will solve this issue,” said Gangan Beura, secretary, OSCTEUF.
Meanwhile, the teachers have decided their plan-B to deal with government. “If the meeting fails to reach a consensus, we will go for a state-wide agitation till September 4 and Teachers day (September 5) will be observed as black day. This apart, we have decided to gherao the Assembly September 7,” Nayak said.
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