The dharna being staged in front of the Social Security and Empowerment of People with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department by members of the Odisha Teachers’ Association for the Blind and the Federation of Special Schools’ Employees with the solo demand of availing pension on retirement entered its fourth day on Monday. Association secretary Basant Kumar Seth said the dharna would continue until the demand is fulfilled. “Talks with Minister Prafulla Samal and department Secretary Niten Chandra have failed. Hence, we have decided to continue our strike till our demand is mrt,” said Seth in a statement. He said that though the 51 Special Schools (Blind, Deaf and Mentally-Challenged) running under the SSEPD Department are given full Grant-in-Aid since 1987, teachers and employees are not getting pension, GPF and other retirement-related facilities as availed by GID Schools under the School and Mass Education Department and the SC and ST Development Department. He too lamented that even as a high-level meeting headed by the Finance Minister had on December 21, 2016 decided to provide pension to Special School teachers and nonteaching staffs, the decision has not been implemented as yet.