The Odisha Sikshya Sahayak Association on Sunday resolved that all 62,000 Siksha Sahayaks (SS) would sit on an indefinite dharna in front of the State Assembly if their longstanding demands are not met within 10 days.
The association took the decision at it State-level executive meeting held here under chairmanship of president Sunil Kumar Pradhan. Members of State executive committee and all 30 district committees were present. “As per the Right to Education Act and the related Act of the State Government, all teachers deserve equal pay for equal work and all facilities equally. But the School and Mass Education Department has violated the Acts depriving Sikshya Sahayaks of their legitimate slaries and other benefits. Our demands have still remained unheeded and we are not being called for talks despite repeated requests,” said Pradhan.
The demands include equal pay for equal salary and all other benefits under the Right to Education Act and Rule 18 of related Act of the State Government, withdrawal of OTET for SSs appointed in 2012, provision of death and rehabilitation benefits, inter-district transfer provision and regularisation of all SSs in Elementary level-5 cadre.