Thousands of school and college teachers and nonteaching staff came here in a padyatra from Pipili and held a massive demonstration at PMG Square on Thursday, protesting the State Government’s proposal to submit an affidavit to get grant-in-aid.
The affidavit though promising grant-in-aid, also comes with a rider that teachers would not stage any kind of protest in future.
The agitators under the banner of Odisha School College Teachers’ and Employees United Forum alleged that they have been asked to sign an affidavit to get financial benefits but prevents them from staging any kind of protest in future.
The agitating teachers have also threatened to boycott the ensuing HSC and Plus Two examinations if the Government does not roll back the proposed affidavit for grant-in-aid. They also threatened to take out anti-Government rallies during Bijepur by-poll.
Speaking to mediapersons forum convenor Golak Nayak said, “When the block grant was abolished, we thanked the Chief Minister. But later, GVP Sharma, who is in charge of the Higher Education Department and some other officers conspired to bring the affidavit system.”
However, Higher Education Minister Ananta Das has appealed to the teachers to withdraw their protests.
“They do not have any demands but have only challenged the procedure of affidavit system. Any changes to that would have to be implemented after discussions with law and Finance Departments, Development Commissioner, Ministers and Secretaries of Higher Education and School and Mass Education Departments,” he said.