Staff members of Block Grant colleges under 662 and 488 ranks worshipped Saraswati Puja at the lower PMG in Bhubaneswar where they have been on an indefinite stir since Tuesday demanding grant-in-aid (GIA).
They have shut down their institutions and are protesting the Government’s apathy.
Six hundred and sixty-two colleges union leader Golak Nayak lamented that though the staff members have been taking responsibility of teaching a major chunk of student population in the State and that too, in the rural and far-flung areas for last 25 years, the Government has ignored to regularize their service by sanctioning GIA.
“The Government has admitted our contribution and sacrifice to run the higher education in rural areas but when it comes to providing us our dues, the Government except promising, is not doing anything,” slammed another teacher.
Meanwhile, as the colleges are closed, lakhs of students reading in the institutions were deprived of celebrating the Puja as usual. This has spread resentment among the students and their guardians. Many students had to return with broken heart as their colleges were found locked.
These teachers have also threatened to boycott the coming university and CHSE examinations.
Notably, while the Berhampur University examination commences from February 16, Sambalpur University examination starts from February 18. Similarly FM University examination starts from February 21 and the tests of Utkal University will start from February 22. The CHSE theory examination has been scheduled for March 2.