Five days into the protests against the block grant system in Odisha, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged the state government to listen to what the agitating teachers have to say and arrive at a proper solution for the betterment of the education sector in the state.
Pradhan said that all the government-run schools and colleges in the state have been affected by the protests and said that the government can avoid the situation if they listen to the agitating teachers.
"All the government-run schools and colleges are not in order. Nearly 1 lakh teachers and 30 lakh students, who are associated with the protests, have been affected. I would urge the state government to listen to their demands and arrive at a solution," Pradhan said.
Pradhan added that primary education is the foundation of Odisha and requested the government to look into the matter.
He said, "I'll write a letter to the Chief Minister to make sure that the government comes to a solution regarding the problem."
Earlier on Wednesday, nearly 4,000 high schools and 1,500 colleges across Odisha were closed down for an indefinite period as teachers of these schools and colleges went on an indefinite strike demanding abolition of the block grant system. Over 20,000 teachers from across Odisha on Wednesday staged a huge protest rally in front of the Odisha Assembly and started an indefinite strike.
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