Odisha Siksha Sahayaks defy govt threat; to go on strike from tomorrow

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, 1 Dec:

The federation of Odisha Tteaching Assistants (Odisha Sikshya Sahayak Sangha) will launch an indefinite strike in front of the Odisha Assembly from tomorrow.

File Pic
File Pic

In bid to force the teaching assitants from going ahead with the strike, the School and Mass Education department of the beleaguered Odisha government has warned  them of disciplinary action. The department has even written a letter to Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) project director and director, primary education asking them to consider the strike as a ‘break in service’.

The federation has reacted sharply to the government move and has condemned the apathy of the Odisha government towards their plight.

“The government of Odisha is violating our constitutional rights. Also, they are torturing us mentally and financially.  As per Section 18 of Right to Education Act, 2010, teaching assistants are entitled to to get regular salary, allowances and additional benefits deemed fit for the job from December 2. However, the Odisha government only pays a partial remuneration from Sarba Siksha Abhijaan (SSA) grants of the union government,” said general secretary of the federation Judhisthira Sahu.

“Even though the teaching assistants are on par with contract teachers in high schoold in terms of qualification and training, the School and Mass Education department of Odisha discriminates against us while fixing our wages and allowances. Instead of supporting us, it is hitting us where it hurts the most. The federation intends to go on the strike as planned notwithstanding the threat issued by the department,” said president of the federation Sunil Pradhan and secretary Arata Bhanjan Sahu.

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