No more Sikhya Sahayaks; Now they are Junior teachers

Bhubaneswar: In a major development, the state government has finally abolished the post of Sikhya Sahayak and decided to appoint them as Junior teachers.

Odisha School & Mass Education Minister Badrinarayan Patra after holding discussions with the agitating teachers informed that the Sikhya Sahayak post will be abolished and the teachers will be posted as Junior teachers on contract for the first three years.

Meanwhile, the agitating Sikhya Sahayaks have threatened to launch a protest against the Central government till the demands requiring Centre's approval are not cleared. As per sources, they have threatened to stage demonstration against the Centre at Lower PMG here.

After discussion with Mass Education Minister, the Union President stated that the state government has agreed to fulfill four out of the six demands. "The state has agreed to increase salary by 25 percent as per the recommendations of 7^th Pay Commission. However, as per rules, the state government should provide 40 percent and the Centre 60 percent. Even after repeated letters from the state government, the Centre is yet to give its approval,” he stated.

Earlier, thousands of teachers under the banner of Odisha Primary Teachers’ Association and Odisha Sikshya Sahayak Association had staged a demonstration here demanding a hike in the grade pay and abolition of the term sahayak along with appointment as Junior teachers.