Disengaged Odisha contract teachers launch fast-unto-death

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 16:

Members of Odisha Government High School Contract Teachers’ Association (OGHCTA) further intensified their agitation by launching a fast-unto-death hunger strike here today in protest against the state government’s failure to reappoint 3,760 contractual teachers in different high schools by the end of second week of this month despite assurances.

“The government is trying to cover up its loopholes. Nowhere has the High Court ruled for retrenching contract teachers. Yesterday we were on dharna. Today we are on fast-unto-death.  Tomorrow we will stage dharna in front of residences of all ministers and MLAs and won’t allow them to attend Assembly. We will further intensify our agitation till our demands are met. We warn the government that if our demands are not fulfilled within five days we will go for mass self-immolation,” Pradipta Pradhan, president OCTA said.

The OGHCTA had on Tuesday staged a demonstration in front of the state Assembly at Lower PMG square demanding re-engagement of the dismissed teachers.

Earlier, contractual teachers had gheraoed District Education Offices (DEOs) across the state on Monday.

Notably, the state government had terminated services of nearly 3,760 contractual teachers appointed after June 11 this year in view of a case in the Orissa High Court.

School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra had assured that a decision with regard to reappointment of retrenched contract teachers would be taken by the second week of December to sort out the issue.