Ganasikshyaks begins fast-unto-death

BHUBANESWAR: Thousands of Ganasikshyaks began fast-unto-death from Saturday demanding fulfillment of their demands including regularisation of their service, career advancement and salary hike. The members of the State Ganasikshyak Mahasangha (SGM) said that they would not return to their school till their demands are fulfilled.

The teachers have started their agitation from December 10 before the State Assembly and also organised demonstrations in front of the residences of MLAs protesting State Government’s apathy. The opposition parties have raised questions about the problems of the Ganasikshyaks’ in the Assembly, but the Government is not paying towards their demands, said Mahasangha president Umakant Nayak. 

It may be noted that the Ganasikshyaks had staged dharna in front of the State Assembly here from March 22 to March 30 this year demanding regularisation of their jobs within three years of their appointment on the basis of their 10 years of teaching experience in primary or upper primary schools. Around 100 teachers were injured during the demonstration at the Lower PMG.

Following the incident, a meeting was held where the then School and Mass Education Minister Pratap Jena, Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik, Minister Arun Sahu and others leaders of the rulling party had given assurance to fulfill the Ganasikshyaks demands within three months, but that is in vain.

The SGM president said the then School and Mass Education Minister had announced in the Assembly about an order that contained regularisation of the teachers along with Rs 4,000 salary. Even an inter-departmental committee was formed to examine the demands of the teachers and for the notification of the orders within four months, but the committee didn’t consider their demands which left 22,700 Ganasikshyaks helpless, he added.