Teachers, lecturers of 488-category block grant colleges

Hundreds of lecturers and staff of 488-category block grant colleges of Odisha today held a demonstration here demanding full grant-in-aid.
The demonstration was supported by various other teacher and lecturer bodies and civil society groups.
Hundreds of teachers including lady lecturers of 488 category colleges and All Odisha 662 (+2 and +3) Non-Government Lecturers' and Employees' Association (AONGLEA), have been sitting on dharna for the past two weeks demanding abolition of block grant system and implementation of full Grant-In-Aid (GIA).
They have announced to boycott Plus Two and Plus Three examinations and answer paper evaluation if their demands were not met.

Meanwhile, an inter-ministerial committee meeting chaired by state finance minister P K Amat on February 15 failed to come up with a solution. Another meeting of the committee has been scheduled for tomorrow.
"The government should now fulfil our demands," said 488-category block grant college teachers and employees coordination committee general secretary Atal Bihari Bal.

"We have decided to boycott the Plus Two and Plus Three examinations and answer paper evaluation if tomorrow's meeting fails to fulfil our demand. The government will be held responsible for any inconvenience caused to the students," he added.
There are about 15,000 teachers and employees in the 662 and 488 aided colleges getting block grant aid.

About 8,000 members from 622 category of colleges under the banner of AONGLEA held a candle-light march yesterday from Lower PMG to Ram Mandir seeking fulfilment of their demand.