Left out block grant schools restrain from strike

BHUBANESWAR: The teaching and non-teaching staff of 338 left out block grant high schools on Monday decided to restrain from State-wide stir on February 21 after getting assurance from the State Government. Besides the 338 block grant schools, 110 girls’ school, 129 and 212 first schools of panchayats would also restrain from the strike, informed the 338 Left out Block Grant Teachers and Employees Association.

On January 15 this year, association Secretary Abhaya Kumar Mahapatra demanded the Government to form a uniform policy and provide direct grant-in-aid to all the Block grant High Schools without any discrimination. The School and Mass Education Minister assured that he would take appropriate steps to consider the demands.

After getting the assurance and keeping faith on the State Government, the association members decided to restrain from the strike. “If the Government doesn’t take any concrete step to fulfill our demands, we would resume our agitation by putting lock in the schools,” said Mahapatra.