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New Delhi: An ongoing strike by teachers that’s causing quite a bit of trouble in Odisha. It’s not a small matter; it’s affecting over 50,000 government schools! These teachers are pretty upset about the government scrapping the contractual appointment system and bringing back the old pension scheme. Can you believe it’s been more than a week since they started this strike? There are about 1.30 lakh teachers involved, and even though the government has been asking them nicely to call it off, they’re standing their ground. This whole thing began on September 8, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to end anytime soon.
Demands of Protesting Teacher
The teachers who are protesting have some clear demands, my friend. First and foremost, they want the whole contractual appointment system to be scrapped. It’s been a big concern for them, you see.
And, they’re not stopping there. They’re asking for a bump up in their grade pay. They believe they deserve better compensation for their hard work.
But wait, there’s more! They’re also voicing their desire to bring back the old pension scheme. It’s something they hold dear, and they’re hoping it can be reinstated.
The action of Odisha Govt. That Leads to This Protest
As per what’s been reported on Odisha TV, the state government in Odisha has taken a step in response to the demands of the protesting teachers. They’ve put together a small group, like a team of five members, to take a closer look at what the teachers are asking for. This team is going to study everything carefully and then share their findings with another bigger group of ministers from different departments.
But here’s the catch – one of the protesting teachers isn’t too thrilled about this sub-committee idea. They’re wondering why we need this small team when there’s already a big group of ministers dealing with this. In fact, they’re even suggesting that this sub-committee might just be a way to slow things down. Quite the puzzle, isn’t it?
Govt. Facing Backlashes From The Opposition
Both the BJP and Congress aren’t holding back in their criticism of the Odisha government on this matter. Anil Biswal, the BJP spokesperson, didn’t mince words when he pointed out that the state government seems to have missed the memo on addressing the concerns of the protesting teachers. He didn’t stop there; he also took a jab at the government for shelling out ₹500 crore for a chopper ride by a secretary while teachers are left struggling with inadequate salaries.
Sarat Pattanayaks, the State Congress president, used some strong words too. He called the education situation in Odisha an ’emergency’ and didn’t hold back in expressing his disappointment with the government’s response, or rather, lack thereof.
On the other hand, Arabinda Dhali, the BJD MLA, seems to be taking a more balanced approach. He assured that the state government would indeed pay heed to the genuine demands of the protesting teachers. Let’s hope that action follows these words and that the education system gets the attention it deserves.
BEOs Likely to Submit Reports of Absent Teachers
It’s been buzzing around that all the Block Education Officers (BEOs) in Odisha have got a new task on their hands. The Directorate of Elementary Education, under the guidance of Brundaban Satapathy, has given them a job – they need to send in a daily report about the teachers. Yep, you heard it right!
Now, these reports are all about keeping tabs on our teachers. They’re making a note of who’s showing up for school despite the strike, and who’s been MIA. Especially, they’re keeping an eye on the contract teachers to see if they’re doing their job. It’s all about staying in the loop. So, that’s the latest scoop from Odisha’s education scene!
