In a major relief to the state’s education system, the Odisha School College Teachers and Employees Coordination Committee has officially suspended its 21-day ongoing strike at Lower PMG.
The decision was announced on Saturday following a successful and positive dialogue with the State Government.
Union Convenor Ranjan Kumar Das confirmed the suspension, stating that the government’s empathetic approach and concrete promises led to the withdrawal of the agitation. The breakthrough occurred when Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan personally visited the protest site to engage with the agitating educators.
The ministers assured the teachers that their long-standing demands would be resolved swiftly based on a newly submitted committee report. According to Law Minister Harichandan, a dedicated committee formed to look into the teachers’ grievances has already submitted an exhaustive 800-page report to the Chief Minister, and the state government is expected to make a decision very soon.
On Saturday, representatives of the teachers’ union were also invited to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) for a high-level meeting. During this session, key issues were discussed, including an increase in grade pay, a career advancement policy for art and sports teachers, the regularization of ex-cadre staff, and the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme. The government has asked the educators to wait until December, assuring them that their demands will be addressed as a “New Year gift.”
The protest had intensified on Teachers’ Day when thousands of educators from eight primary teacher unions gathered at Lower PMG, expressing frustration over the government’s initial silence during the three-week strike.
The coordination committee’s primary demands include providing full grant-in-aid to eligible schools and colleges, government takeover of school management, implementation of the Old Pension Scheme alongside retirement benefits, immediate permanent recruitment to fill thousands of vacant posts, and the withdrawal of the controversial decision to appoint retired teachers as guest educators.
Following the fruitful discussions, both ministers earnestly requested the teachers, professors, and educational staff to return to their respective institutions and resume teaching. Placing their trust in the government’s promises, the teachers have agreed to return to the classrooms.
