Teachers protest demanding regularization in Odisha

Hundreds of teachers took out a massive rally in Bhubaneswar demanding regularisation of teachers in Odisha.

The teachers took on the streets as the government failed to pay attention to their demands.

The school teachers association demanded appointment of regular teachers instead of contractual teachers and payment of full grant-in-aid to new aided high schools in Odisha.

"The contractual teachers are regularised but we have not been regularised since 14 years. In past also we have protested over the issue. We get a mere salary of rupees 4,000 ($63.95) which is equivalent to a labourer's pay. Whenever we protest for our demands, the government baton charges us instead of giving us our rights," Badrinath Jena, primary teacher.

The teachers demanded one status to all primary teachers and one salary structure as these teachers are divided into various categories and the government takes their services while conducting below poverty line surveys and census work.

The teachers present at the protest asserted that the salaries provided to them were insufficient as most primary teacher earned maximum of rupees 4,000 per month, including all perks and privileges but that is inadequate for an individual to survive or to run their household.