Staffers urge Odisha min not to open colleges from June 17

Bhubaneswar: A delegation of staffers of government and private colleges across Odisha met Higher Education Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo at his residence here today and urged him not to reopen colleges from June 17.

The representatives requested the minister for closure of the educational institutions till July 31 and resumption of work with 30 per cent of the employees after July 31.

They also said that most of the colleges in the state are being utilised as quarantine centres and COVID care centres. This apart, normalcy is yet to be restored in passenger transportation in the state for which commuting by the college employees won’t be possible, they said.

“The minister assured us to hold a discussion over the matter with the Chief Minister and take necessary steps,” a member of the delegation said.

The state government had earlier directed all teachers, officers, and non-teaching employees of colleges and universities across Odisha to attend office from June 17. Worth mentioning, classes in all educational institutions of the state have been suspended till July 31 in view of the COVID-19 situation.