Protesting against Odisha government's decision to cancel their appointments, thousands of contractual teachers today staged demonstration across the state and announced their plan to gherao 'Naveen Niwas', the residence of chief minister, on November 26.
The teachers today demonstrated at the office of the district education officers in all the 30 districts and in the state capital here. The agitating teachers also put up a blockade on a road connecting the state secretariat and railway station here.
"I joined as a contractual teacher after quitting another job which I was doing for 9 years. Now the state government has informed the High Court that our appointment will be cancelled," said Rasmita Routray, a contractual teacher.
Similar concerns were also raised by other contractual teachers. Sradhanjali Senapati, who also quit her job as a clerk in a court and joined as a contractual teacher, said, "There is no option left for us than committing suicide."
As the teachers decided to intensify their stir, School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said, "We will request the court to reconsider the case of contractual teachers. Keeping in mind that the matric exams are ahead, we will ask the court in our petition to take decision so that the studies of students are not hampered."
The State government in 2014 had advertised for appointment of 5,364 contractual teachers. This was challenged by several persons in the Odisha Administrative Tribunal (OAT) alleging anomalies in the eligibility criteria related to age, educational qualification and reservation.
However, the state government appointed teachers on contractual basis in June despite a stay order. Contempt of court petitions were filed in the High Court acting on which the court served show-cause notices against the School and Mass Education Department. Subsequently, the government through its Advocate General informed the court that it will cancel the appointments.
