Bhubaneswar, December 8: Thousands of primary school teachers from across Odisha have gathered for a massive protest in front of the state Assembly, which is currently in session. The teachers are demanding the fulfillment of their long-standing demands, including a pay hike and improved service benefits.
The teachers, united under the banner of the 'Prathamika Shikshyak Mahasangha,' are calling for the upgradation of teacher posts to Level-2, along with a salary of ₹35,400 and a ₹4,200 grade pay. They are also demanding the implementation of regular service benefits and pension schemes for all primary school teachers.
The protest, which began on Friday, has seen teachers from various districts staging both day and night demonstrations in front of the Assembly building, making their voices heard in the midst of the ongoing legislative session.
In a similar vein, the Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Teachers’ Association has also been staging its own protest at the same location, with 13-point demands, the most crucial of which is the official recognition of Adarsha Vidyalaya teachers by the government. The Association is also pushing for uniform cadre recognition for these teachers, similar to their counterparts in other educational institutions across the state.
One of the prominent demands includes granting a ₹4,600 grade pay to teachers such as PETs, music teachers, and computer teachers at Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAV), ensuring they receive parity with other staff members in the institutions.
The demands also include: Opening of the Arts stream in all Adarsha Vidyalayas
