The Block Grant (BG) teachers’ agitation at Mahatma Gandhi Marg here reached the fourth day on Sunday with teachers insisting on fulfilment of their demands, including abolition of the BG system and salary as per 7th Pay Commission recommendations.
“The agitation will not be called off under any circumstances. We will withdraw our agitation only after our demands are met,” reiterated School Teachers’ Federation of Odisha (STFO) convenor Prakash Chandra Mohanty.
Notably, the teachers have been holding agitation here since Wednesday over their demands that include abolition of the Block Grant system, equal salary for equal work and salary as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, provision of full grant-in-aid and Government takeover of all aided schools.
Meanwhile, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradan on Saturday urged Chief Minsiter Naveen Patnaik to find out a way to resolve problems of teachers of various categories. “The State’s present and future are linked to teachers’ problems. Children of poor families need good teachers in schools as they can’t read in private schools. In view of this, teachers should be ensured a good salary to live a dignified life,” pointed out Pradhan.