Intensifying their protest against the State Government’s decision to cancel the appointment of around 3,800 contract teachers, a large number of the aggrieved teachers, including women, on Thursday marched towards the residence of the Chief Minister and the School and Mass Education Minister here but were arrested midway by police.
Vehicular movements were disrupted along Janpath and Master Canteen Square for hours as a huge number of protesting teachers took to the street to press their demands.
A scuffle erupted between the police and the teachers as the latter tried to move towards the Naveen Niwas, the residence of CM Naveen Patnaik and the house of School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra by breaking the barricade near PMG Square.
Police arrested hundreds of agitators who gathered under the banner of the Odisha Contract Teachers’ Association and prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC.
Angry over the Government’s affidavit at the Orissa High Court mentioning that the Government would cancel the appointments of the contract teachers recruited after June this year as the recruitment was done despite a no from the court, the teachers had earlier threatened to gherao the residences of the CM and the School and Mass Education Minister.
last week, the teachers had gheraoed the offices of the District Education Officers (DEOs) across the State. The teachers’ body has decided to sit in dharna along PMG Marg for an indefinite period.
Meanwhile, Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said the Government has informed the High Court on Thursday about the need of appointment of teachers.
“Today was the hearing date on contract teachers at the High Court. We have intimated the court about the present status of teachers and also the need for the teachers. The Government is taking every possible step to sort out the problem,” said Mishra.
“Even after a week has elapsed, the Government is yet to take any decision over the cancellation of appointments. We will intensify our stir which will propel the Government to reappoint the teachers,” said the association president.