Bhubaneswar: The Private Lecturers Association of grant-in-aid and non-grant (+2 and +3) colleges across Odisha has announced a protest in front of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on the 20th. This protest is being organized by teachers who were appointed by management committees between 2008 and 2013.
The association leaders, including President Dr. Deba Bijaya Mishra, Secretary Ravi Narayan Karan, Bharat Charan Sahu, Tapan Tarei, Chitrasen Panda, Sakuntala Bhuya, Bibhu Prasad Mishra, and Surya Narayan Panda, have repeatedly met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Surjyabanshi Suraj regarding their demands. They have also submitted recommendation letters from 40 MLAs along with a memorandum of demands. However, the BJP-led government has remained silent on the matter.
The association claims that the previous government made false promises, betraying them over the years. The BJD government previously stated that it valued education, but teachers were left struggling for 18 years. The new government had promised to include private teachers and staff under the new GIA (Grant-in-Aid) system, but no action has been taken so far.
Frustrated with inaction, the association has warned that the new government will be held fully responsible for any consequences arising from their protest on the 20th in front of the Assembly.