Over 1 lakh Odisha primary school teachers to launch indefinite cease work strike from today

Around 1.3 primary teachers under the banner of United Primary Teachers Federation have decided to go on an indefinite cease-work agitation from today. The proposed strike may affect academic activities at 56,000 schools across the state. 

The teachers of primary schools are scheduled to stage dharna in front of 314 block education offices to press for their demands. Their demands include the abolition of the contractual appointment system, salary as per the central norm and reimplementation of the old pension system.  

The federation had earlier staged dharnas and agitation, even at lower PMG in Bhubaneswar, on several occasions and the teachers had also taken their issues up with the concerned authorities. They alleged they were only given assurances and nothing else. 

An inter-ministerial meeting was held on September 5 to discuss the demands of the teachers. Then, the teachers were hopeful that something positive would come out of the meeting. But nothing happened as expected, they alleged. 

With no option left, the teachers have decided to stage an indefinite cease work strike at all the BEO offices, which may lead to disruption in academic activities at 56,000 schools across the state.