Block grant teachers protest on Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22: Teaching and non-teaching staff of 1,982 block grant high schools launched a fast-unto-death agitation outside the Assembly today, protesting against the government’s new grants-in-aid (GIA) policy for them.

The protesters, affiliated to Block Grant Secondary School Teachers and Employees Association, shouted anti-government slogans and said the political leaders were trying to divide their unity by putting them under four different categories.

“We have been demanding salaries on a par with our counterparts in government-run high schools. However, instead of ensuring that, the state government is trying to create a divide between us,” said association president Prasanta Mohapatra.

In March, the state government had decided to abolish the block grant system by introducing a new GIA policy under which employees receiving block grant for more than eight years would be eligible for a 100 per cent GIA and get salary as per the Sixth Pay Commission.

Similarly, teachers and non-teaching staff getting grants for over six years will be eligible for 75 per cent GIA and those with more than three years of grant would be eligible for 60 per cent GIA. The rest would receive 40 per cent aid.

“The new policy does not include dearness allowance, pension, service conditions and annual increment. While our government counterparts are getting a salary of Rs 23,500, the teachers of 100 per cent GIA schools would get a monthly salary of Rs 13,500, which would remain constant without dearness allowances and increments,” said general secretary of the association Prasant Pati. Earlier, the block grant teachers used to get a meagre salary of Rs 4,995.