TV
On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, hundreds of teachers across Odisha raised their voices in protest at Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
The Odisha School College Teachers’ and Employees’ Coordination Committee (OSCTECC) spearheaded the demonstration demanding pension benefits for retired teachers and an increase in the retirement age from 60 to 62 years, along with other service-related conditions.
The protesting teachers alleged that despite repeated assurances, the State government has failed to address these issues, forcing teachers to resort to agitation.
"Today is Teachers' Day, and the students are worshipping the teachers at the schools. However, the teachers, who are shaping the future of the children, are forced to hit the streets as they are not getting their legitimate service benefits. The government should think that several teachers of the unaided schools have been working for the last 30 years without legitimate benefits. Following their retirements, they have suffered as they don't get pension benefits. Though the government is sensitive towards the ordeal of the teachers and repeated assurances have been given, no action has been taken. We are hopeful that the government will announce the pension and other retirement benefits of the teachers on the occasion of the Teachers’ Day," said OSCTECC convener Ranjan Kumar Das.
"After coming to power, the Mohan Majhi-led government had announced that they would not let any teacher hit the streets for their demands. However, thousands of teachers are protesting on the street on the occasion of Teacher's Day. If a teacher retires this month, he/she doesn't get anything in the next month. As a result, many teachers are facing a tough time. Who will look after the family members of these teachers? The government is not at all thinking about these teachers," said another protesting teacher.
