Odisha: Block grant teacher defer strike till November 30 after government assurance

The Odisha School College Teachers and Employees United Forum on Saturday deferred their 59-day-old strike after the state government assured to look into their demands, sources said.

The agitating block grant teachers and college lecturers decided to postpone their indefinite strike for temporary period after holding a discussion with state chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, said the sources.

The state government has assured the forum to look into demands, said Pabitra Mahala, one of the leaders of the forum.

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According to reports, the state government has also assured the teachers to provide salary of 46 days and clear 30-day salary dues of college teaching staffs.

The teaching staffs under the banner of Odisha School and College Teachers and Employees United Forum were on strike since August 16, demanding of equal work, job regularisation, benefits of 7^th pay commission and abolition of block grant system and others.

To further press their demands, the agitators had also staged protest at panchayat and block levels besides locking up schools.

In September, following the teachers’ agitation, the state government had decided to implement ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy for the block grant teachers and lecturers who are striking work.

(With inputs from agencies)