The plan of the Odisha primary teachers’ association to hold a massive protest at the Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar hit a hurdle after the Commissionerate Police refused to grant permission for the strike.
The city police denied permission to the association for dharna citing traffic congestion in view of the ongoing Matric examination in the State. The police have written a letter in this regard to the United Primary Teachers Federation.
“As the Matric examination is currently going on in the State, any kind of dharna and strike will only intensify the traffic congestion in the Capital City. Hence, permission is not granted for the strike,” the letter read.
On the other hand, the federation has termed the denial unfortunate.
As per the federation, a steering committee meeting will be held today and in the meeting, they will decide whether to go for the strike or not.
Meanwhile, the Education Department has not granted leaves to the teachers who have come to Bhubaneswar to join the strike. Block Education Officers (BEO) have not granted leaves to the teachers and ordered them not to leave the headquarters.
Several primary teachers across the State have applied for three days' leave and headed for Bhubaneswar to join the strike. As per the department, the leaves of those teachers have been cancelled as it will affect the teaching and examination management.
Notably, more than 1.5 lakh teachers under the banner of United Primary Teachers Federation from across the State have planned to stage a dharna at the Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to press for their 3-point charter of demands.