Odisha Education Service Employees Call Off Stir

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Education Service (School Branch) Association has decided to call off the strike after the state government promised to restructure the Odisha Education Service cadre and implementation of cadre rule.

A high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, was held here on Saturday in the presence of Education service employees to discuss the issue.

After a brief discussion between the association members and the Mass Education Department officials, the state government promised to implement the cadre rule within one month or before the New Year.

With this decision, the Odisha Education Service (School Branch) members expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister,  School and Mass Education Minister, the Finance Minister, the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department.

Association president Pradip Kumar Nayak and general secretary Dr Sanatan Panda requested all Education service employees to join work from November 26.

Notably, Odisha Education Service (School Branch) Association employees have threatened to go on leave from November 26 if their demands were not met.

They had presented their demands, including restructuring of Odisha Education Service cadre, and implementation of cadre rule, to the Chief Minister, State Education Minister, Finance Minister and Chief Secretary.

The association had instructed the employees not to cooperate in any educational activities. Many teachers’ association members have also extended their support.

According to the association, though the OPSC introduced Odisha Education Service Recruitment Rules for Odisha Education Service (School Branch) since 1971, the state government is yet to implement them. As a result, Odisha Education Service employees are not getting suitable promotions. Some employees have also been retired from their job without any promotion.  In 2014, the state government had taken initiatives to restructure the cadre but till now it has been pending with the finance department.

Though the cadre of many services in Odisha has been restructured and approved by the state government, restructure of the Odisha Education Service and its implementation is yet to be done.

Association members from 30 districts had also sent memorandums through district collectors to the Chief Minister.