Deadlock ends as Odisha primary teachers call off stir after assurance of talks with government

The agitation of Odisha’s primary school teachers was called off on Tuesday after government representatives held late-evening discussions at their protest site near the State Assembly in Bhubaneswar. According to sources, MLA Babu Singh and former Union Minister Bishweswar Tudu reached the dharna venue and assured the agitating teachers that their demands would be formally taken up with the government. 

They requested seven days for a structured dialogue with the School and the Mass Education Department. Following this assurance, leaders of the ‘Prathamika Shikshyak Mahasangha’ announced withdrawal of their protest.

Thousands of primary teachers from across the state had been staging day-and-night demonstrations in front of the Assembly since Friday, demanding pay revision and service-related benefits. Their key demands included upgradation of posts to Level-2, a basic salary of Rs 35,400 with a grade pay of Rs 4,200, and extension of regular service benefits, including pension. 

They alleged that while several states offer significantly higher pay scales, Odisha continues to provide only Rs 2,200 as grade pay, placing primary teachers at a disadvantage.

The strike had severely impacted the functioning of primary schools across Odisha. Inside the Assembly, opposition members Goutam Buddha Das (BJD) and Pabitra Saunta (Congress) raised the issue during Zero Hour.

School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond reiterated the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue. He appealed to the teachers to return to duty in the interest of students, stating that not all demands could be met immediately, but discussions would continue.

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Meanwhile, cooks engaged in schools also staged a parallel demonstration on Mahatma Gandhi Marg, seeking an increase in their monthly remuneration to Rs 13,860.