After School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra on Thursday hinted about scrapping of the Block Grant (BG) system, the agitating BG teachers on Friday said the Government should give it in writing or should issue a notification regarding it.
The teachers, whose agitation reached the seventeenth day on Friday, have been demanding abolition of the BG system in which they get a consolidated amount without any allowances or other benefits.
The protestors are demanding implementation of the Grant-in-Aid system, by which they would get basic pay, grade pay and increments.
“Though Government has agreed to abolish the Block Grant system, it is reluctant to keep service conditions for the teachers,’ said teachers’ leader Pabitra Mahalla.
Mahalla said though the Minister announced in the media about abolishment of the BG system, he did not consult with the teachers; instead, he made a one-sided announcement. If the Minister is trying to sabotage the teachers’ agitation by this, he would not be successful, Mahalla said.
He further said the teachers are ready for talks for as many rounds as the Government wants, but their demands should be fulfilled. Till then, they would continue their strike.
Till now, three rounds of talks have been held between Government officials led by the Chief Secretary but have failed to arrive at a conclusion.