Bhubaneswar, 5 December (H.S.): Thousands of primary school teachers from across Odisha staged a massive demonstration on Mahatma Gandhi Marg on Friday, pressing for long-pending demands related to pay revision and service reform. The protest, held in front of the State Assembly, intensified the statewide agitation that educators have been pursuing for years.

The teachers’ primary demands include an upgrade of the basic post of primary teachers and a corresponding basic salary of ₹35,400 under Level-9. They also reiterated their call for the complete abolition of the contractual appointment system in primary education. Protesters demanded that all contractual service rendered since 2001 be recognised as regular service, with national increments extended accordingly.

More than 1.5 lakh primary teachers and teacher-educators across the state have repeatedly raised these demands, alleging that government assurances over the years have not resulted in any tangible action.

The agitators further sought an increase in grade pay from the current ₹2,200 to ₹4,200, along with the provision of six notional increments.

Another protesting teacher added, “We do not want students’ education to suffer, but we must secure our livelihoods. The existing pay structure is inadequate. Teachers in other states already receive ₹4,200 grade pay, while we remain at ₹2,200. Despite repeated assurances, nothing has changed. This time, we will continue our protest until our demands are met.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda