Odisha: Agitating teachers not to get salary for days of absence

Bhubaneswar: Agitation by block grant teachers of schools might prove costly for them as the Odisha Government has directed all District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) to ensure non-payment of salary to the teachers for the days they have remained absent in their respective schools.

In a letter to all the DEOs and BEOs, P.K Mohapatra, Principal Secretary, Department of School & Mass Education, has directed them to take necessary steps to check attendance of all teachers/junior teachers/contractual teachers from September 6 and ensure that those who have remained absent without permission or proper ground do not get salary for the days of absence.

In the case of contractual teachers, Mohapatra has asked the DEOs and BEOs to treat their unauthorized absence as a reason for not renewing the annual contract due in next March and may take action to disengage them after following due procedure.

BEOs may make local arrangements for smooth functioning of schools, Mohapatra wrote in the letter.

Notably, block grant teachers of schools and colleges under the banner of Odisha School College Teachers and Employees’ United Forum have been staging protest since August 16 to press their demands of implementation of seventh pay commission recommendations and the new grant-in-aid system which was introduced by the State Government in October, last year.