With the allegation being made about bogus cases from among the recently appointed 6,131 teachers in Odisha, the School and Mass Education department has issued a 15-point SOP to identify and punish the fakes.
There are several physically-challenged teacher job aspirants who have brought the allegations that among the recently appointed 6,131 teachers, there are several fake ones. They alleged they (the bogus teachers) managed to get the jobs by producing fake disability certificates.
Renubala Pradhan, a job aspirant from Bhubaneswar, alleged that despite meeting all the criteria and having a 60 percent disability certificate, she had been rejected. Citing the reason of her being 40 percent disable, she was denied the job.
“I have 60 percent disability certificate issued by the SCB Medical Board, Cuttack. Yet, I have been denied the job on the ground that I am 40 percent disable. There are around 50 differently abled aspirants who were treated unfairly. Mass Education Minister Samir Das had claimed that 143 differently abled aspirants had been given appointment. But it is not true,” alleged Pradhan.
Following the allegation, the School and Mass Education department has sprung into action and issued a 15-point SOP.
“If any teacher is found to have produced fake certificate, stringent action would be taken against him/her. Even criminal cases would also be registered against them. In this regard, Principal Secretary, School and Mass Education department has issued a letter to all directors, district education officers and block education officers,” informed School and Mass Education Minister Samir Dash.
In the letter, Principal Secretary, School and Mass Education department has mentioned that action will also be taken against the officers if they are found guilty.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Secondary School Teachers’ Association (OSSTA) has welcomed the government’s proposed action against the fake teachers.
“The certificates of genuine differently abled aspirants should be taken into consideration afresh and the disability certificates of those who have recently been given appointment should also be verified,” observed OSSTA secretary Prakash Mohanty.
It is learnt that there are over 100 among the 6,131 teachers who have been given appointment under physically handicapped quota. The School and Mass Education department had earlier issued a similar notice. Yet, the fake teachers are able to get away with the order.
It is to be seen what actions are going to be taken against the fakes.