40,000 Odisha Block Grant Teachers end Strike, to Open Schools

Around 40,000 teachers of 4,000 Block Grant schools, who have been on a strike for the last 45 days, finally postponed their strike for two months following assurance from the Government. All Block Grant schools across the state will open today, they confirmed.

However, the Block Grant Secondary School Teachers’ Association has rejected the decision and vowed to continue the agitation. They will hold a Padayatra in Hinjili on September 28.

However, Convener of Vidyalaya Sikshak Mahasangh, Prakash Chandra Mohanty said that if the government fails to fulfill its promises, they will resume their strike. The state government will issue a notification this evening regarding the fulfillment of the association’s demands.

A high-level meeting was held this morning to discuss the demands of Block Grant Teachers, which was attended by Finance Minister Pradip Amat, School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, I&PR Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Law & Panchayatiraj Minister Arun Sahoo, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Sanjay Dasburma and many other Ministers and Secretaries. Members of Block grant teachers were also present in the ministerial level meeting.