The Odisha Primary Teachers’ Association (OPTA) on Tuesday met the Fitment Committee constituted by the State Government for drawing modalities to implement the 7th Pay Commission.
The OPTA demanded the committee to sort out the disparity in the 6th Pay Commission for primary teachers before implementing the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.
They threatened to boycott the oncoming panchayat elections if they fail to get justice.
They strongly demanded for implementing the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission with pay range staring from Rs 35,400, old pension scheme to the teachers as before January 1, 2005 and Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased teachers
OPTA president Rajesh Mohanty said according to the Central Government’s 7th Pay Commission a primary teacher should get Rs 13,500 (pay- Rs 9,300 and grade pay- Rs 4,200) along with other incentives.
According to the Central Government rules, the Primary Teachers of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamilnadu, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab and other States are getting grade pay of Rs 4,200 in pay-band 2 but in Odisha the Primary Teachers are getting grade pay of Rs 2,200 in pay-band 1 and it is against the rule, Mohanty added.
If the demands are not fulfilled the association will protest against the State Government by taking to the streets and threatened to boycott the upcoming panchayat elections.
Among others, OPTA general secretary Khagendra Nath Pal was present.