No Affidavit Required For Teachers To Avail GIA: CMO

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday clarified that the teachers covered under the newly-framed Grant-in-Aid (GIA) Policy-2017 will not have to submit affidavits to avail benefits under the policy as sought earlier.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), those teachers whose petitions are pending in the Supreme Court were asked to submit affidavits because the state government in it’s affidavit had intimated the apex court about it. Now, the teachers will only submit details of their petitions in writing, instead of affidavit so that the government can be aware regarding the cases and initiate appropriate steps to resolve the same.

Meanwhile, School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra hoped that the teachers will cooperate in the Matric answer sheet evaluation process. He also stated that the government has contingency plans in place, if the agitating teachers does not withdraw their strike.

Earlier in the morning, members of All Odisha School College Teachers and Employees’ United Forum staged separate demonstrations in front of different evaluation centres across the state seeking immediate fulfilment of their demands including withdrawal of affidavit clause for availing GIA.

The agitators have also requested other teachers to boycott the evaluation process.

The school and college teachers have decided to stage dharna in front of 46 evaluation centres and boycott the Matric answer sheet evaluation process which will begin from March 20.