Agitation By Primary School Teachers Put On Hold After Appeal By Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: The agitating primary school teachers from across the state reportedly decided to put on hold their protest on Monday following an appeal made by the state government during discussion at a meeting in Bhubaneswar.

This information was given by Secretary General of Nikhil Utkal Primary School Teachers’ Federation, Charulata Mohapatra. The decision to suspend the stir was taken following talks with the government. However, details of deliberations held at the meeting were yet to be made available.

Earlier, a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee was held at the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, where representatives of the All Utkal Primary Teachers’ Federation participated, Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said.

“Demands of the All Utkal Primary Teachers’ Federation were discussed in detail at the meeting. The school and mass education department has been directed to examine their demands and take appropriate action in the coming days,” Arukha said.

Stating that the state government is actively considering the demands of the agitating teachers, the minister requested the teachers to end the protest and join duty.

Following the government’s appeal, the teachers’ body had decided to hold a meeting to decide the future course of action, said Jyoti Ranjan Mishra, coordinator of the federation.

Demanding abolition of the contractual appointment system, hike in grade pay and restoration of the old pension scheme, over 1.30 lakh primary school teachers of Odisha were staging protests across the state since September 8.