High School teachers clashed with the police here on Monday while demanding inclusion of new pension scheme for contract teachers.
More than 500 teachers under the banner of Odisha Government High School Contract and New Pension Scheme Teachers’ Association took out a rally from Master Canteen to the barricades put up by police in Lower PMG. Their major demand was implementation of the new pension scheme for the contractual teachers engaged after 2004.
After the rally came to the barricades, they breached first and second barricade.
After a minor scuffle with the police personnel, the teachers were forced to retreat.
The School and Mass Education Department implemented the New Pension Scheme recently under which the contractual teachers, engaged after January 1, 2005 were covered.
Under the new scheme, the teachers employed in the Government High Schools are entitled to grade pay and 10 per cent enhancement of the basic pay per annum. But the scheme does not cover the teachers hired before December 31, 2004. Association secretary Ashok Mallick said they also want that their six-year contractual period to be counted as regular service.
The members of the Association said they would intensify the stir if their demands are not fulfilled by the State Government.