Teachers take out rally in Bhubaneswar, demand equal pay for equal work

Hundreds of teachers of 662-category Plus II and Plus III colleges took out a massive protest rally in Bhubaneswar on Monday demanding equal pay for equal work. 

They threatened they would boycott examination and evaluation if their demand is not fulfilled. 

The association alleged the government had taken a decision in December 2021, making the payment equal for teachers and employees of different categories of colleges getting grant-in-aid. But, later the government took another decision to revise the salary structure. Consequently, the teachers and employees belonging to 488 category received Rs 10,000 extra salary. 

In protest against this anomaly, the 662 category of Plus II and Plus III teachers have been staging strikes and demonstrations from time to time. 

Today, they took out a massive rally and staged a demonstration at Lower PMG. 

“There is a difference of Rs 10,000 between the salary of 662 category and 488 category teachers. We are even getting Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 less than their demonstrators, PETs and librarians. Because of this step-motherly attitude of the government, it is not possible on the part of a teacher to impart education. This has forced us to resort to strike,” said Golak Nayak, president of the teachers association.