Braving the hot and humid conditions and intermittent rains, thousands of teachers under the banner of the Odisha School College Teachers’ and Employees’ United Forum continued their indefinite strike for the fifth consecutive day at the lower PMG here on Monday.
The Block Grant (BG) teachers have been staging their dharna since August 16 over non-fulfilment of their earlier demands by the State Government. “Despite the heat and rain, around 60,000 teachers are on the roads. If the Government thinks our demands are unjustified, let them remain silent,” said forum convenor Golak Nayak.
“Besides, if our demands are not fulfilled by the Government, we would give a befitting reply during the forthcoming elections,” added Nayak.
The teachers have been alleging that as per the new system, while GIA would be considered from the date of its implementation, teachers who have been in the profession since last two decades would be unable to get any arrears. Besides, there are no service conditions and provision of pension for retired teachers in the new norms. Meanwhile, due to the teachers’ strike, studies in more than 5,000 schools and junior colleges across the State have been affected.
However, Higher Education Minister Ananta Das said the teachers’ demands keep changing frequently. The Government is looking into the demands.