School teachers reject 25% salary hike

Bhubaneswar: The Block Grant Teachers' Association has rejected the 25% hike in the basic salary of school teachers announced by the Odisha government today. Dubbing it a ploy to 'cheat the teachers', the Association has threatened to launch an agitation soon.

"The government is trying to cheat us. A decision on a mass movement will be taken soon. All the teachers will boycott the forthcoming panchayat elections," said Prasant Mohapatra, secretary of the teachers' body.

Announcing the 25% hike as per the 2013 grant-in-aid provisions, School and Mass Education minister Debi Prasad Mishra had said it will be on the salary drawn as on May 31, 2016 and will be applicable retrospectively from June 1, 2016. The state government has also made provisions for an annual increase of 3% in the basic salary, he said.

“The School and Mass Education department has earmarked Rs 129 crore to be spent for their inclusion in social security schemes. It has been implemented for the first time in the State. 2608 high schools, 29 Sanskrit tolls, 916 UP/ME schools and 138 Madrasas will be benefited by the schme. As many as 31500 teachers and staff of around 3071 schools will get the benefit. The grant-in aid order-2016 has been issued today after being approved by the chief minister," Mishra said.

Moreover, the teachers will get a compensation of Rs 2 lakh in the event of death during service and Rs 1.5 lakh in case of disability under the social security scheme.