In a landmark move aimed at resolving long-standing demands of the teaching and non-teaching fraternity across Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday approved the implementation of 15 major recommendations put forward by the Ashok Kumar Tripathy Committee.
A high-level committee headed by retired IAS officer Ashok Kumar Tripathy had been constituted to examine the various grievances and demands raised by associations of teachers, lecturers, and non-teaching staff working in government, private aided, and private unaided educational institutions under the School & Mass Education and Higher Education departments.
Following a thorough review of the committee’s report by both concerned departments, the Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting today and gave the green light to execute 15 crucial measures:
Key Decisions Approved:
- Grant-in-Aid Expansion: 194 high schools that were previously left out of the 2013 Government Block Grant will now be brought under the grant-in-aid fold.
- Major Pay Hike for Part-Time Staff: The monthly remuneration for part-time art, music, and sports teachers in government schools has been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 16,000.
- Arrear Salaries: Government secondary school TGT and PET teachers, who were regularised in 2022 after completing six years of service, will receive their pending arrear salaries.
- Promotions & Regularisation: Regular promotions will be ensured for primary school teachers. Additionally, Shiksha Sahayaks appointed between 2016 and 2018 will be regularised.
- Boost to Sanskrit Education: Regular teachers will be appointed in Prathama and Madhyama Sanskrit Tols, and teachers will be deployed in fully aided Madhyama Sanskrit Tols.
- Cadre & Qualification Upgrades: Classical teachers serving in government schools will be included in the Trained Graduate (TG) teacher qualification cadre. Meanwhile, Odisha Junior Teachers (Schematic) will be given opportunities to acquire higher qualifications.
- Timely Salaries for Vocational Trainers: Measures will be taken to ensure regular monthly salary disbursement for vocational trainers.
- Overhaul of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs):
- All residential hostels in Adarsha Vidyalayas will be completed and made operational.
- Regular salary disbursement will be ensured for all OAV staff.
- Children of OAV employees will be granted admission privileges to study in Adarsha Vidyalayas.
- Past service counting and pay protection will be granted to TGT teachers appointed in OAVs.
- State-of-the-art AI and Robotics laboratories will be established in Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas.
Update on Block Grant Pension Demand
The issue regarding pension benefits for Block Grant employees was also deliberated during the high-level meeting. However, noting that the matter is currently sub judice before the Orissa High Court, the government decided that appropriate action will be taken following the receipt of the court’s final order.
