BHUBANESWAR: About 60,000 teachers of 5,500 schools and colleges will observe Teachers' Day on Wednesday as a 'black day' to press for the fulfilment of their demands of better pay and service benefits.
Pabitra Mahala, convener of
Odisha School and College Teachers' and Employees United Forum, which is spearheading the protest, said the steering committee of the Manch had decided that the teachers would lock their schools indefinitely after Wednesday.
"We will demonstrate in front of the houses of all 147 MLAs on September 6. From September 7, at least two teachers from each institution will protest in Bhubaneswar. From September 10, the rest of the teachers will stage demonstrations in front of their respective block offices," Mahala said.
These teachers, who have been agitating in Bhubaneswar for the past 20 days by availing themselves of leaves in batches, belong to three different categories. They get fixed monthly remuneration of Rs 17,200, Rs 18,300 and Rs 22,000 in the form of a partial government assistance called '
block grant'.
The teachers have been demanding the abolition of the block grant system and its replacement with 100 per cent 'grants in aid', besides benefits such as periodic increment, promotion and pension. If fulfilled, this will increase their monthly pay packet to between Rs 52,000 and Rs 58,000, depending on their years of service.
Mahala said if the demands were not fulfilled, the teachers would take out rallies in the panchayats from September 17. "The midday meals served in these schools would be stopped," he added. The teachers will picket schools and colleges to ensure that none of them remains open.
School and mass education minister
Badri Narayan Patra criticized the teachers' plans and said, "The teachers should shun the path of agitation. The government is considering their demands."
