Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of junior school teachers from across Odisha staged a protest at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar on Friday, demanding the regularisation of their jobs and the abolition of the contractual appointment system in government-run primary schools.
Carrying banners and placards, the protesting teachers — including a significant number of women — voiced their frustration over what they termed as unjust employment practices and inadequate compensation.
“We are paid only ₹16,000 per month, which is simply not enough to sustain a family,” said one protesting teacher. “In several other BJP-ruled states, junior teachers receive a far better salary. Why is Odisha lagging behind?”
The teachers also highlighted the absence of social security benefits under their current contractual employment terms. Another demonstrator added, “We are performing the same duties as regular teachers, yet we are denied equal pay. We demand that the government ensure ‘equal pay for equal work’ and scrap this discriminatory contract system.”
According to protestors, nearly 16,000 junior teachers are currently serving in government primary schools across the state under contractual terms.
The protesting teachers warned that they would intensify their agitation if the state government failed to meet their demands.
