Bhubaneswar, Jan. 28: The state government today hiked the monthly salaries of about 85,000 siksha sahayaks and gana sikshaks.

School and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra made the announcement today after chief minister Naveen Patnaik approved it. "The revised remuneration will be retrospectively implemented from December 1, 2015," said Mishra.

Around 27,645 siksha sahayaks, 34,846 junior siksha sahayaks, 256 trained matriculate gana sikshaks, 16,868 trained Plus Two teachers, 4,852 untrained Plus Two teachers and 536 untrained matriculate gana sikshaks will benefit from the hike.

The monthly remuneration of siksha sahayaks has been hiked to Rs 7,400 from Rs 5,200 and that of junior siksha sahayaks to Rs 9,200 from Rs 5,200. The monthly remuneration of trained matriculate gana sikshaks has been hiked to Rs 6,400 from Rs 3,700. Trained Plus Two teachers will now get Rs 7,000 as compared to Rs 4,000 earlier.

The salary of untrained matriculate gana sikshaks has been hiked to Rs 5,600 from Rs 3,200 while that of untrained Plus Two teachers has been hiked to Rs 6,400 from Rs 3,700.

The hike will cost the state exchequer Rs 925.59 crore, up from Rs 648.64 crore, a year.

In November, the gana sikshaks protested in front of the residences of ministers after talks of permanent employment failed between the representatives of teachers and the inter-ministerial committee set up by the government.

The teachers were demanding regularisation of their service and a salary hike.

In December, 72,000 agitating siksha sahayaks had launched an agitation under the banner of Odisha Sikshya Sahayak Association demanding fulfilment of their seven-point charter of demands.

The teachers were demanding permanent appointments after completing six years of service, grade pay, increment and regular salary.

"We are happy with the announcement. There were other demands too, especially related to transfer and benefits after death. We will take those up," said Siba Prasad Jena, a siksha sahayak.