The fate of teachers of the State who are engaged on an ad hoc basis since 2014 in various Government colleges hangs in fire as the State Government has issued a notice that they would be retrenched by May 31 next.
In the regard, the Higher Education Department has issued notifications (21303 and 21309) on October 14 stating their engagement would end by May next year.
The adhoc teachers here besides mentioning that they were engaged at the time of crisis in 2014 said now they are fired when they have given enough service to the department during crucial period without considering their future.
In Baleswar, there are 13 teachers engaged in various colleges under the they said the State Government should reconsider the decision else they would resort into agitation across the State. They warned that the agitation would begin from Baleswar.
According to sources, as many as 187 teachers were appointed in 2014 for various degree and autonomous colleges. In Baleswar, out of 13, while FM Autonomous College has six teachers engaged on ad hoc basis, four are in KKS Women’s College and three in FM Junior College since 2014.
They said that most of them joined colleges after quitting their higher education, researches and service outside the State institutes.
In 2018, they had discussions with the State Government for regularization of their service . They were assured positively but the assurances couldn’t materialize because of ambiguities in policy for recruitment of teachers between the State Government and the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).
"Most of us have crossed 40 years of age and we have very little scope and options for other services . So we are in quandary what to do at this moment," the affected teachers said.
The State Government should reconsider its decision keeping in view our position and take steps to regularize us, they said.