Kalahandi DPC office locked amid ongoing OPEPA employee strike

Kalahandi: Protest by Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) employees continues in Kalahandi adversely affecting various administrative works in the district. As all the employees have taken part in the protest, the District Project Coordinator's office has remained closed.

"We are doing a lot of government's work including election work. We are being sent on deputation to work at sub-collector’s office. But the government is treating us like its step child," a protesting employee said.

As per reports, under OPEPA, many experienced candidates from the field of software, engineering, mechanical engineering have been recruited in last 22 years on a contractual basis by the State government. But the employees staged protest alleging that both the Centre and State government have ignored their demands.

Their demands include job regularisation of teachers under OPEPA, implementation of 7th pay commission and other facilities.

District Project Coordinator of Kalahandi, Gabakshya Nayak, said "There is an urgent requirement of staff, otherwise how can the office run? There are 8 sections and in the absence of teachers, it is difficult to manage."