The agitating SC/ST and physically-handicapped teachers, who have been staging demonstration in front of the State Assembly since February 4 demanding regularisation of jobs, on Wednesday adopted a novel way by tonsuring their heads as a mark of protest stating that they were performing the “last rites” of the Government as it is yet to fulfil their demands.
“The Government fails to address our genuine demands. It is sitting idle on our demands. Today, we observed the 10th day of the death of the Government and tonsured our heads as per Hindu rituals,” said one of the protestors.
Thousands of the teachers, under the aegis of the Odisha SC/ST Ganashikshak Mahasangha said they would continue their stir till their demands are met.
“The Government in 2013 assured us to regularise our jobs after six years of service. It only regularised the jobs of those in Ganjam district, the home district of the Chief Minister. The teachers of the rest 29 districts are yet to be regularised,” said another
protester.
There are nearly 7,200 SC/ST and physically-handicapped teachers working in the State.