Over 13,000 junior teachers stage sit-in in Bhubaneswar demanding regularisation

The Odisha Junior Teachers’ Association revived its protest in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday after the primary teachers’ outfit recently ended its agitation. The junior teachers’ outfit demanded the regularisation and launched an indefinite Dharna (sit-in) at the Lower PMG, until the state government issues necessary orders.

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More than 13,000 teachers joined the movement, pressing their demand for permanent appointment. According to the association, the State government had announced on August 22 that junior teachers would be regularised. However, four months have passed without any official directive being issued, fueling frustration among the teachers.

The association has warned that the indefinite sit-in will continue until the government fulfils its promise. Officials say the protest is peaceful, but the association is resolute in ensuring that the pending regularisation issue is addressed promptly.

“Contractual junior teachers must be regularised on a priority basis, and that is our single-point charter of demands,” some agitating teachers expressed.

“Previously, we had protested during the vacations. We had then told the State government that thereby we had not harmed the studies of children. We don’t want to trouble them and hinder the teaching process. We repeatedly pressed our demands before the Chief Minister, but to no avail,” a functionary of the outfit said.

“We had got down to the roads on June 6. We had met the CM and discussed our demand. However, on August 22, the CM had committed to us to regularise the junior teachers. No government notification has been issued so far,” the outfit functionary stated.

Holding placards and shouting slogans, the protestors called upon the State government to regularise their positions. They argued that securing their employment not only benefited them but also enhanced the quality of education available to students by ensuring a stable and committed teaching workforce.

Reported By: Jyoti Prakash Pati