17 teachers’ associations take to the streets in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 24: 

As many as 17 school teachers’ associations of Odisha under the banner of School Teachers’ Federation of Odisha (STFO) today held a massive rally from Master Canteen square to Lower PMG of Bhubaneswar demanding fulfilment of their 11 point charter of demands.

“The complete education system has collapsed in the state. Thousands of teachers are on the streets fighting for their demand, yet the government has turned deaf and mute. We will give this government a befitting response during the upcoming panchayat polls, should there be no action on our demands,” said STFO Convenor Prakash Chandra Mohanty.

In a heart-wrenching sight, scores of handicapped teachers were seen lying on the flooded streets fighting for their rights today.

Worse still, while some of them fell sick because of the heavy downpour, the ambulance service failed to help them to hospitals. They were taken to the Capital hospital by fellow agitators using rented commercial vehicles.

“We have already suffered enough. The government lays us off each year to avoid any long term obligation. We want it to stop. We demand permanent employment at the end of three years and seven months of service – as is the rule. All 1448 teachers of us will stay put here until our demands are met. The government may take away our bodies after we die,” said a visibly distraught lady teacher of the Handicapped Teachers’ Association.

Odisha Secondary School Teachers’ Association (OSSTA), The Handicapped Teachers’ Association, Block Grant Teachers’ Associations, B.Ed Teachers’ Association and Contractual Teachers’ Association — among others — participated in the massive demonstration today.