BHUBANESWAR: The All Odisha 662 (Plus II and Plus III) Non-Government Lecturers’ and Employees’ Association (AONGLEA) on Monday announced to continue their agitation even as the first Ministerial Committee meeting headed by Finance Minister Pradip Amat failed to resolve the issue.
The college teachers have, however, decided to cooperate with the State Government in conducting Plus III examination, which will begin from February 16, by sporting black badges.
The next meeting of the Ministerial Committee will be held to discuss the demands of the college teachers and employees. Minister of State for Higher Education Pradip Panigrahy said preliminary round of discussion was held with the representatives of college teachers’ association.
As Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner are not present at Bhubaneswar, a decision on the demands of the college teachers will be taken at the next meeting, he said and added, “We requested the agitating college teachers to cooperate with the State Government for the smooth conduct of the examinations,” Panigrahy said.
President of AONGLEA Golak Nayak said the lecturers will cooperate with the Government in conducting Plus III examination by wearing black badges. A decision on other examinations will be taken after the second round of discussion of Ministerial Committee on February 25, he said.
The AONGLEA is demanding abolition of block grant and introduction of a grant-in-aid policy. Though the college teachers have taken to streets several times over the demand, no decision has been taken so far.
The Odisha Block Grant Teachers’ Association has also resorted to agitational path demanding abolition of block and introduction of grant-in-aid as per eligibility. The school teachers have announced boycott of HSC examination till their demand is accepted by the Government.
The other members of the Ministerial Committee are Minister of State for Law Arun Sahu, Minister of State for Technical Education Sanjay Dasburma and Minister of State for Energy Pranab Prakash Das.