Teachers back on streets, demand hike in grade pay

BHUBANESWAR: Thousands of teachers under the banner of Odisha Primary Teachers’ Association (under New Pension Scheme) and Odisha Sikshya Sahayak Association on Wednesday protested at Mahatma Gandhi Marg here demanding a hike in grade pay from `2,200 to `2,800, include six years contractual period in the service span and abolish the term sahayak.

The teachers assembled at the designated dharna place here on Wednesday in large numbers and protested against the Government for not fulfilling their demands which they have been raising since 2008. They gathered in city for the protest even after School and Mass Education Department had imposed restrictions stating that more than one teacher of a school can not take leave on the same day and action would be taken if any teacher remains off-duty without permission.

“We were selected on the basis of our Plus II qualification. But, our grade pay is according to Matric certified teacher (CT) which is `2,200. Our demand is that the grade pay should be hiked according to our selection procedure,” SK Mohammed Daud, an Upper Primary School teacher posted in Jajpur said.
“We also want that the Government should include our six years contractual period in our service span so that we can get salary increments and promotions accordingly,” another Upper Primary School teacher, Pradipta Kumar Biswal said.

The other demands of the teachers include abolishing the term sahayak and appoint teachers as junior teachers along with implementing old pension scheme. A 10-member delegation of the protesting teachers met School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra and put forth their demands before him.
“We met School and Mass Education Minister and discussed our demands with him. He has assured us that they will look into the matter, and hold a meeting of the officials on November 13 and conduct a high-level meeting on November 17 in this regard after which a report will be submitted to the Chief Minister,” Odisha Primary Teachers’ Association president, Rajesh Mohanty, said. But, as we have not received any written assurance, we will continue to protest till our demands are met, he added.