Upset over slipshod attitude of the State Government in addressing their demands, a large number of school teachers on Saturday hit the streets and warned the State Government to boycott the ensuing panchayat polls if their demands were ignored.
The School Teachers Federation of Odisha (STFO), an umbrella organisation of nearly 14 school teachers’ associations, on Saturday organised a huge protest rally here near the Assembly and demanded immediate implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations and equal pay for equal work.
STFO president Prakash Chandra Jena said, “The State Government is trying to debar teachers from getting benefits from the Pay Commission recommendations. Teachers from fully aided schools must be given a pay hike according to the recommendations.”
He warned that the federation would stage protest in front of the Assembly and start a State-wide agitation against the Government’s ‘anti-teacher’ policy from December 15 and resort to ceasework from Jaunary1. He further stated that awareness campaigns against the current education policy of the Government would be conducted before the rural elections.
The teachers also demanded abolition of the Block Grant system, besides urging the Government to treat them on a par with the teachers of Government schools.