As the agitation by the Block Grant (BG) teachers reached its 20th day on Tuesday with the State Government not showing any gesture for fulfilling their demands, about 30,000-40,000 teachers and employees under the School and College Teachers’ and Employees’ United Forum would protest on the Teachers’ Day on September 5 (Wednesday) by wearing black badges on the MG Road here.
Forum leader Prakash Mohanty rued that the Government is not a bit moved even as thousands of teachers and employees have been sitting on a dharna against all odds like rain and hot and humid conditions since August 16 demanding full Grant-in-Aid (GIA) with service conditions and pension.
He told that the calculations of the officials over the possible expenses to be borne out to meet the demands of the teachers are not yet over as the bureaucracy is deliberately lingering the process.
Mohanty further told that as per the decision of the forum, the teachers would protest the apathy of the Government on the Teachers’ Day on Wednesday by wearing black badges. Besides, he informed that about 1,500 colleges and 4,000 schools would be closed from September 6 for an indefinite period.
Meanwhile, School and Mass Education Minister Badri Patra said, “I know that the students observe the Teachers’ Day. But never have I heard of teachers observing the Teachers’ Day.” He said that while the Government is holding talks with the teachers from time to time, it is unfortunate that they (Block Grant teachers) have decided to hold the day as black day.