A day after they held a Yajna at the dharna site in front of the State Assembly to appease the Chief Minister and the School and Mass Education Minister, the retrenched high school contract teachers on Tuesday offered diyas to the photographs of both the CM and the Education Minister to press their demands.
They resorted to the novel ways of protest to draw the Government’s attention. Meanwhile, the indefinite strike of the agitating teachers entered the ninth day on Tuesday.
On Monday, the teachers had conducted a Yajna at the lower PMG here despite cold weather and intermittent downpour till forenoon.
The striking teachers were not invoking any God to fulfil their wishes. Instead, they performed the Yajna rituals in front of the framed photographs of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra to press for their demand.
“We performed the yagna and offered diyas to appease the Chief Minister and the School and Mass Education Minister so that they listen to our grievances. We have been striking since the beginning of second week of
December as the Government has not met the assurance,” an agitating contract teacher said.
Notably, the high school contract teachers have been agitating at the lower PMG here protesting against their retrenchment. The Government had cancelled appointment of nearly 4, 000 contractual teachers appointed after June 11 this year following Orissa High Court orders.
“We would resort to self immolation if the Government fails to reengage us at the earliest,” said another agitating teacher.