President Droupadi Murmu’s teacher leads demo in front of Odisha Assembly; know why

Bhubaneswar: A retired primary school teacher, who had taught President Droupadi Murmu during her childhood, is now leading a demonstration in front of the Odisha Assembly here to press for the demands of his potter community.

Retired teacher Basudev Behera along with the members of potter community (Kumbhakar Sangha) is staging a sit-in at Lower PMG in the capital city here seeking the immediate formation of Clay Board in Odisha.

Behera had taught President Murmu at a primary school at Uperbeda village in Mayurbhanj district till Class-V, sources said.

Behera claimed that he had visited New Delhi for nine days after receiving an invitation from the President and raised the various issues of the potter community before her.

“I have been championing for the cause of potter community since long. The state government should form the Clay Board in Odisha to ensure proper marketing facility and better price for the earthen products of potters in Odisha. The formation of the board will also enable the potters to avail bank loans and other assistances from the government,” said Behera, the adviser of Kumbhakar Sangh in Odisha.

Behera further claimed that he had submitted a memorandum to the President during her visit to Rairangpur some days ago.

“The President had accepted the memo and kept it with her. I am very much hopeful that some of the demands of the potter community will be fulfilled by the government in future,” he added.