Bhubaneswar: Block grant teachers intensified their protest in support of their demand and declared to observe September 5 as "Black Day".
Almost 5,000 block grant teachers are sitting on dharna at Lower PMG Square since August 16 demanding among other things equal pay for equal work, implementation of Seventh Pay Commission recommendations and provision of full aid and facilities.
The teachers have also demanded immediate intervention of chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Teachers of four districts are taking rounds to sit on dharna in front of the district administration office.
"We have been empathetic with the government, but there is a limit to everything. We are worried about the future of the students, so we took turns to sit on dharna but not anymore," said forum president Pabitra Mahala. He said that from September 6 teachers would go on go on mass indefinite strike if their demands were not met.
The cease work agitation will hamper educational activities in more than 5,500 schools and colleges across the state. While at present, more than 25,000 lectures and employees are working in more than 1,500 block grant colleges in the state, more than 4,000 block grant schools are there, in which around 35,000 teachers and other employees are working.
"If the government fails to fulfil our demands, we will completely paralyse educational activities across the state. We are left with no other option," he added.
Earlier in April, block grant teachers had put their strike on hold after talks with the state government.
"The government had told us then that our demands would be taken care of within three month but the time is over and nothing has been done. We are back on the streets again and this time there would be no looking back," said Mahala.
Cop-public meet
A police-public interface was held at Balakati in Balianta police station are on Sunday. Several matters - including traffic problem, night patrolling and senior citizens' security - were discussed during the interface.
Police commissioner Satyajit Mohanty assured the local residents of police support to address their concerns
