Jeypore: The salary of staffers at a government high school in Bandhugaan block here in Koraput district has been withheld due to alleged violation of Covid-19 guidelines set by the School and Mass Education Department.
Deputy Director of Odisha Higher Secondary Education Siba Shankar Pradhan on Sunday directed the Block Education Officer (BEO) of Bandhugaan to withhold the salary of teachers and other staff of Almunda Jaguguda School for not adhering to the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) set by the government.
Pradhan, who visited seven schools in Badhugaan and two other schools in Narayanpatna blocks, expressed displeasure over the unhygienic environment at Almunda Jaguguda School.
"I visited several schools in Bandhugaan and Narayanpatna block in Koraput district today. Except Almunda Jaguguda, all other schools were found to have adhered to the covid-9 protocols. I directed the Bandhugaan BEO to hold back the salary of the school teachers for violating government norms. Their salary will not be cleared until they adhere to the government guidelines," Pradhan said.
He visited several schools in remote areas of two blocks in the district to inspect whether the classes are being conducted on Sundays as per government’s rules.
Bandhugaan BEO Prafulla Kumar Mishra and Narayanpatna BEO Seemanchal Nahak accompanied him to various schools during the visit.
Earlier, the salary of teaching and non-teaching staff of five schools in Keonjhar district had been withheld on similar charges.
The schools found to have violated the Covid-19 SoPs were SMR High School from Jharbelda, Khireitangiri Government High School, Bishoipat Government High School from Jamunaposi, PMB High School from Bolaniposi and Jhalamani School from Denuan in Keonjhar district.
The district education officer had found blatant violations of government norms while he was on a visit to different schools on the first day of reopening of schools.