BHUBANESWAR: School and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash has asked his department to look into the premature retirement of 50-year-old visually challenged teacher Tapeswari Panda, who lost vision in both eyes following a brain surgery in 2017.
Panda was teaching at Bedhabahal Government Primary School in Sundargarh district and was handed premature retirement by the department apparently because her health condition was not permitting her to carry out her duties properly.
A report highlighting the woman’s plight was published in the TOI on February 27. “After the news report was published, I asked the principal secretary to conduct a detailed enquiry into the matter and submit a report within a month,” Dash said.
The minister also added that the decision to hand her premature retirement was taken on the basis of the report submitted by the respective district education officer. “The detailed enquiry by a team of senior officers will certainly bring out the truth and decision will be taken or revised on the basis of the report,” he added.
Panda was diagnosed with a tumour in her brain in 2017 and during surgery, she lost vision in both her eyes. Despite being visually impiared, she continued to teach and there was no complaint against her.