First Pay Parity Then 7-Hour Duty: Teachers’ Bodies

Bhubaneswar: The non-government college teachers’ bodies of Odisha have decided to defy the 7-hour duty order of the state government.

Talking to the media, president of the 662 categories of the non-government aided colleges and teachers and staff association, Golak Nayak said the teachers are willing to abide by the order provided the government brings parity in the salary structure. “A teacher needs mental peace to impart education while the students should be provided with all infrastructure facility to pursue his/her study. “Should this be explained to the Higher Education minister Arun Sahu who was a student leader?” Nayak asked.

Stating that the government must ensure job security of the teachers, Nayak said that those taking classes for past 20 years without salary, have shown grim determination and commitment. “Let the government first ensure this and then crack the whip on the teachers. Let this issue be solved within a month and we will abide by the order of the government failing which we will decide our future course of action,” he warned.

In his reaction, president of the 488 categories non-government college teachers and staff coordination committee, Pabitra Mahala said parity in the salary structure of the teachers should be the first priority of the government. “All teachers of the aided non-government colleges should be brought in under one category.”

Talking about the gross anomaly in the salary structure of the teachers, Mahala said while the monthly salary of some teachers is Rs 1.2 lakh, others draw Rs 20,000. Besides, there are teachers who receive a paltry Rs 5000 a month. “Let this disparity in salary be stopped at once and the government come up with ‘equal work, equal salary’ policy after which we will abide by its order in letter and spirit,” he added.

Secretary of the Committee Atala Bal informed that a delegation will meet the Higher Education minister and the secretary in a couple of days and submit a memorandum.