Even as the Block Grants (BG) school and college teachers and staffs’ dharna at PMG Square here reached the seventh day on Tuesday, the agitators were hopeful that the Chief Minister would fulfil their demands.
School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra and Higher Education Minister Ananta Das on Tuesday said they have discussed the teachers’ problems with the Chief Minister, who has assured them that he would call a teachers’ delegations for discussions within two to three days to sort out their grievances.
The teachers said they are hopeful that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has won the best administrator award, would do justice to their legitimate demands. But till then, they would continue their strike.They are not only fighting for their livelihood but for their dignity. However, the want the Block Grant system to be abolished and equal pay for equal work, they said.