The administration has not addressed the teachers’ grievances despite a period of six days(Representative Image)
The teachers took mass leave and protested outside the block education officers’ offices after the government did little to address their requests
On Wednesday, an estimated 1.30 lakh teachers from more than 56,000 primary and upper primary schools in Odisha went on strike in protest of the state’s contractual appointment system, grade pay hikes from from Rs 2,200 to Rs 4,200, and the reinstatement of the old pension system. Over 40 lakh children of state-run schools have been kept away from their schools as a result of the teachers’ indefinite strike, which has lasted six days straight.
Several schools and their students have suffered significantly as a result of the protest. The majority of schools were shut, although one or two teachers led classes in others.
Despite the Odisha government’s request that they call off their strike, the teachers grouped under the banner of the All Utkal Primary Teachers’ Federation (AUPTF) started a protest on September 8 in order to get their demands met. Beginning on September 14, the teachers concurred to go on mass leave.
According to a PTI report, the aggrieved teachers took a collective leave of absence and protested outside the block education officers’ offices after the government did little to address their requests
A teacher leader expressed concerns and stated that instead of investigating the issues raised, the government has formed a subcommittee when an inter-ministerial panel has already been formed. He further claimed that the subcommittee was constituted solely to slow down the process. Teachers’ demands were supported by BJP and Congress leaders, who also criticised the state administration for failing to take action on their concerns.
The administration has not addressed the teachers’ grievances despite a period of six days. The whole education system in Odisha has essentially crumbled due to the state government’s lethargy, state BJP spokesman Anil Biswal told PTI. Arabinda Dhali, a BJD MLA, on the other hand, asserted that the state administration will unquestionably consider their sincere requests.
— with PTI inputs