Bhubaneswar: The government on Monday bowed to pressure from para-teachers and regularised their jobs after 70,000 siksha sahayaks went on an indefinite mass leave.

On Monday, the government decided to re-apppoint siksha sahayaks of the 2011 batch as junior teachers. The siksha sahayaks had gone on leave after an inconclusive meeting with the government in the afternoon and demonstrated near the Assembly.

They were demanding regularisation of jobs, implementation of Seventh Pay Commission, and death benefits. Following breakthrough in talks later in the evening, the agitating para-teachers withdrew their protest.

Sources said the government had agreed to almost all of their demands. The para-teachers of the 2011 batch will be re-designated as junior teachers after serving on contract for three years. However, the revision of salary and other details would be formalised at a later date.

Earlier in the day, the para-teachers alleged that the government had long been making empty promises, but had done nothing. Malay Jena, leader of an organisation of siksha sahayaks, said after the inconclusive afternoon meeting: "We didn't think any solution would come from this meeting. Several such meetings have been held earlier, but to no avail. The government has given only assurances."

Last November, the government had assured the para-teachers of regularising 17,000 teachers of the 2011 batch. It had said that it would look into revision of minimum qualification for primary teachers from matriculation to Plus II and regularisation of jobs of siksha sahayaks in six years.

The para-teachers teach primary students and receive a consolidated amount every month. "The government is employing a divide-and-rule policy and depriving teachers of their rights. This multiple categorisation is damaging education. This system has resulted in each category being denied at least some benefit. We don't want to strike, but are helpless," said an agitator.