Members of the All Utkal Primary Teachers’ Federation (AUPTF) on Saturday urged School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra for setting up of a welfare fund for primary teachers of the State.
In a core committee meeting held at the AUPTF office here, federation president Trilochan Nayak and general secretary Sheikh Abdul Khalique discussed about various problems of the primary teachers with the School and Mass Education Minister, Panchayati Raj Minister Arun Sahoo and SC and ST Development Minister lal Bihari Himirika.
During the discussion, the federation members submitted a memorandum with 21-point charter of demands of the primary teachers to Minister Mishra. In the memorandum, the AUPTF members stated that the teachers should be exempted from extra responsibilities like school building construction, medicine distribution and other works. They also demanded for regularisation of Sikshya Sahayaks and Ganasikshyaks to enhance quality of education.
The welfare fund would immensely help the poor teachers at the time of medical emergency. “If a labour can get facility from welfare fund, why not we,” questioned a teacher.