Odisha govt abolishes block grant system, implements grant-in-aid for teachers

Bhubaneswar: Bowing down to the pressure of the agitating teachers, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced the abolition of block grant system and implementation of grant-in-aid system for the teachers in the state.

“The schools and colleges were previously not getting any support from the government. In 2004, my government took a landmark decision and started supporting through block grant system. Now my government has decided to support further and in a historic decision we will abolish the block grant system and replace it with grant-in-aid system. This will benefit teachers to uplift the education quality in the state. I request the teachers to go back to the schools and colleges and start teaching again,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed media.

Notably, the school and college teachers were on strike for the 17 days in a row on the street of Mahatma Gandhi Marg here. The agitating teachers had threatened to observe Teachers’ Day as black day over their demands not being met.

“The teachers have expressed their happiness and thanked Chief Minister for the decision. The Chief Minister has abolished the block grant system and introduced the grant-in-aid system,” School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra said.
Under the grant-in-aid system, the teachers are thus entitled to get basic pay, grade pay, and increments. The system will be effective from January 1, 2018, Patra added.

However, the minister clarified that the 7th Pay Commission recommendations would not be applicable to these teachers.