Bhubaneswar/Rayagada/Soro: Teachers’ Day turned into a day of protest across Odisha on Friday, as thousands of teachers and staff of non-government-aided and unaided institutions observed the occasion as a “Black Day” to highlight their long-pending demands.
In Bhubaneswar, hundreds of teachers under the banner of the Odisha School and College Teachers and Employees Coordination Committee marched to Lower PMG Square, pressing for a five-point charter of demands that includes block grant funding and pension benefits.
The association accused the government of depriving them of rightful support and alleged that successive administrations have failed to address their grievances. The agitation, which was earlier staged on Mahatma Gandhi Marg, has now been shifted indefinitely to the gates of non-government-aided and unaided colleges across the state.
Association president Biswaranjan Das, addressing the demonstrators, announced that Teachers’ Day would be observed as a Black Day in protest against the government’s indifference.
Similar scenes unfolded in Rayagada, where teachers and staff gathered to condemn what they called the government’s step motherly attitude. They pointed out that while appointments were made between 2008 and 2018 in educationally advanced districts and 2010 and 2020 in backward districts, their institutions have been left out of government grant provisions.
The protesting teachers said they have been raising their concerns since the new government took office, but even after 13 months, no action has been taken.
They recalled submitting demand letters through five educational directorates, staging 12-hour sit-ins before district collectors in all 30 districts, collecting 1.5 lakh signatures of public support, and holding 11 rounds of discussions at the Chief Minister’s grievance cell. Despite these efforts, the government has not responded, which the association described as deeply unfortunate.
In Soro, the Non-Government Teachers and Employees Association staged a symbolic demonstration at Upendranath College, where teachers wore black badges instead of celebrating the day.
They said that despite a 19-day pen-down strike earlier this year and over five years of agitation, neither the previous BJD government nor the present one has resolved their issues. Teachers accused successive governments of making promises but failing to deliver, leaving them no option but to continue their protests.
Across districts, the mood was one of frustration and determination. Teachers said they had hoped the new administration would take up their cause, but the silence of the government has only deepened their sense of neglect.
They reiterated their demands for block grant inclusion, pension rights, recognition of service, and financial parity with government institutions. Many of them vowed to continue observing Teachers’ Day as a day of protest until their grievances are addressed.
