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Studies disrupted in 4,000 Odisha schools

Bhubaneswar, Aug 12 (IANS) Studies came to a grinding halt in as many as 4,000 schools in Odisha as the indefinite strike of at least 40,000 block grant teachers entered its third day on Wednesday.

The teachers, under the banner of Odisha Vidyalaya Sikshak Mahasangh (OBSM), are demanding implementation of the state government's decision for full grant to the schools.

The teachers of 2,209 secondary schools, 916 middle schools, 138 madrasas and 42 sanskrit schools are on protest demanding 100 percent government grant after abolition of the existing block grant system.

"We demand the state government to provide full grant to all 4,000 eligible block grant schools and announce grant-in-aid to these schools. It has to implement the decision announced one-and-half years ago," said OBSM convenor Prakash Chandra Mohanty.

The protesting teachers also demanded annulment of new grant-in-aid policy and implementation of the grant-in-aid rules of 1994.

Urging the agitating teachers not to stop teaching in schools affecting future of students, School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said the government is trying to resolve the issue of the teachers within its limited resources.

"The government has started consulting with the finance department to fulfill the demand of the teachers. They should not disrupt the study atmosphere and I hope they would go back to school so that the curriculum of the students is not affected," said Mishra.