Odisha govt abolishes Siksha Sahayak post; teachers to be called Junior Teachers

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday abolished the Siksha Sahayak post following the demand of the agitating teachers, who held an indefinite strike at the PMG square here.

Holding discussions with teachers at the state secretariat here, School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patro said that the Siksha Sahayak post will be abolished and teachers to be posted as Junior Teachers henceforth.

The Minister further said that the Junior Teachers will be on a contract for first three years.

Notably, demanding fulfilment of their seven-point charter of demands, the Odisha Siksha Sahayak Association (OSSA) had launched an indefinite agitation at Lower PMG on Monday.

Odisha Siksha Sahayak Association president said the state government has agreed to fulfil four out of the six demands.

“The state has agreed to increase salary by 25 percent as per the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission. However, as per rules, the state government should provide 40 percent and the Centre 60 percent,” he said.

“Even after repeated letters from the state government, the Centre is yet to give its approval,” he informed.

As many as 70,000 Siksha Sahayaks have also gone on a mass leave to press their demands which included the change of the designation of Siksha Sahayak, an increase of 25% in the pay scale of the Siksha Sahayaks according to the 7th Pay Commission recommendations and regularization of the job.

Meanwhile, the agitating Sikhya Sahayaks have threatened to launch a protest against the Central government till the demands requiring Centre’s approval are not cleared.