Hundreds of temporary teachers are on an indefinite strike demanding regularisation of their service in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
“We were employed by the government during 2003-2004 but the government sacked us in various false cases,” says a statement from the association of Swechasevi Sikshya sahayak (SSS, Student Assistant volunteers).
The association wants the government to follow a High Court order and re-employ all dismissed teachers and regularize those still working.
The protest that began November 14 continues even after two weeks at the Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar, the state the capital.
“The government has divided us into three parts, regular, contractual, and overthrown members. This is how we have been harassed for 19 years,” bemoans Duryajan Sethi, president of the SSS teachers’ federation.
He said the high court on November 9 gave the order in the teachers’ favor. “If the government does not listen, we will intensify the protest and continue to demand to re-employ 243 teachers who were removed unjustly and regularize the 412 teachers who are working on a contractual basis.”