Bhubaneswar: In an effort to resolve the ongoing agitation by schoolteachers in the state, the Odisha government has initiated formal discussions with a delegation of agitators.
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond and Law Minister Pruthviraj Harichandan held a joint meeting with the representatives of Odisha School College Teachers’ and Employees’ Coordination Committee (OSCTECC) on Saturday to deliberate on their key demands.
Stating that the state government is serious about addressing teachers’ concerns, Gond told reporters that a committee will be constituted to study and examine their issues.
The government is aware of the various demands being made by the protesting teachers and talks are underway to arrive at a settlement, he said.
Sources said the committee will include members from the Finance and Law departments, along with educationists. Law Minister Harichandan said the matter has already been discussed with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The demands of the teachers are under active consideration and there is no need for them to strike work as a solution to the issue is likely to be arrived at soon, he said.
A five-member committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, will soon be convened to examine the four major demands raised by the teachers. A positive decision is expected shortly, the Ministers said, while appealing to the agitators to withdraw their protests.
While welcoming the process of discussion, representatives of protesting teachers insisted on a formal written assurance from the government. Until a written commitment is received, the agitation will continue, they said.
It may be noted that hundreds of teachers took out a march on Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar on Teachers’ Day to press their long-standing demands. These include pension benefits for retired teachers, an increase in the retirement age from 60 to 62 years, and improvements to service-related conditions.