The Opposition Congress and BJP on Tuesday forced the Speaker to adjourn the House thrice as they stormed to the Well against school and mass education minister Pratap Jena's inappropriate reply ignoring the full grant in aid demand of the Block Grant teachers who are on strike for the last 23 days.
The Opposition however, was also successful in eliciting an assurance from the Speaker to find out ways and means to solve the problems of the agitating teachers and employees of the Block Grant High Schools which are closed since August 1.
Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat yielding the demands of the Opposition had adjourned the House for three times consecutively from 6.24 pm to 7.15 pm, to hold an all-party meeting in his chamber to find out amicable solution to the vexed problem of teachers.
Normalcy restored in the House after the Speaker directed parliamentary affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty to take steps to fulfill the demands of the striking teachers.
The issue raised during an adjournment motion, was deliberated for over three hours.
Though both the ruling and the Opposition members participating in the discussion on the admissibility of the adjournment notice expressed concern over the strike by the Block Grant teachers and were vocal in unison to urge the state government to fulfill the demands which they said, were genuine, Jena did not speak about any measures to end the strike before the adjournment of the monsoon session.
Stating that the state government was conscious of the four-point charter of demands of the Block Grant Teaching and Non-Teaching staff now on indefinite agitation, the minister said that proper steps would be taken after the receipt of the High Power Committee report.
He lamented that though the representatives of the striking teachers were advised during the discussion to withdraw their agitation to help restore normalcy in the respective schools, they continue to push the future of lakhs of children to uncertainty.
Referring to the demands for payment of full salary to the teachers as per the 6th Pay Commission award by abolishing the Block Grant scheme, the Jena said that if the state government would have to bear additional Rs 414 crore if the demands are met.
Besides, the state government would to pay additional Rs. 268 crore towards the outstanding salary to the teachers now availing full grant in aid as per the 1998 salary rules to accept the demands, he said, adding that the state government had provided 40 per cent block grant as per the revised Grant-in-Aid Order 2004 which was further enhanced to 60 per cent.
The Block Grant was provided to the school management to ensure full scale of pay out of their funds.
Besides, the Block grant High Schools, 915 Upper Primary Schools, 87 Madarsas were covered under the Block Grant Scheme.
However, the minister turned the table against the Centre stating that though the state government had urged the Centre to make provision for provision of financial assistance to aided and block grant schools for infrastructure development and teachers salary, there was no communication from the Centre.
He, however, informed that the state government has decided to provide bicycles to SC and ST girls reading in Class X in the schools in Tribal Sub-Plan areas and SC and ST boys of Class X reading in aided and Block grant schools.
However, the Opposition did not appreciate the reply of the minister stating that there was no specific announcement to fulfill the demands before the adjournment of the session.
The Opposition took to the Well and urged the Speaker to direct the state government to do the needful.
They would not allow the House to run if nothing is announced in specific. Criticising the government, leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh, NCP floor leader Amar Prasad Satpathy and BJP floor leader KV Singhdeo urged the Speaker to adjourn the House and convene a meeting of leaders of all parties to find out a solution.
They alleged that the state government was ignoring the demands despite the unanimity of both the Opposition and ruling party on the issue.
The Opposition however, was also successful in eliciting an assurance from the Speaker to find out ways and means to solve the problems of the agitating teachers and employees of the Block Grant High Schools which are closed since August 1.
Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat yielding the demands of the Opposition had adjourned the House for three times consecutively from 6.24 pm to 7.15 pm, to hold an all-party meeting in his chamber to find out amicable solution to the vexed problem of teachers.
Normalcy restored in the House after the Speaker directed parliamentary affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty to take steps to fulfill the demands of the striking teachers.
The issue raised during an adjournment motion, was deliberated for over three hours.
Though both the ruling and the Opposition members participating in the discussion on the admissibility of the adjournment notice expressed concern over the strike by the Block Grant teachers and were vocal in unison to urge the state government to fulfill the demands which they said, were genuine, Jena did not speak about any measures to end the strike before the adjournment of the monsoon session.
Stating that the state government was conscious of the four-point charter of demands of the Block Grant Teaching and Non-Teaching staff now on indefinite agitation, the minister said that proper steps would be taken after the receipt of the High Power Committee report.
He lamented that though the representatives of the striking teachers were advised during the discussion to withdraw their agitation to help restore normalcy in the respective schools, they continue to push the future of lakhs of children to uncertainty.
Referring to the demands for payment of full salary to the teachers as per the 6th Pay Commission award by abolishing the Block Grant scheme, the Jena said that if the state government would have to bear additional Rs 414 crore if the demands are met.
Besides, the state government would to pay additional Rs. 268 crore towards the outstanding salary to the teachers now availing full grant in aid as per the 1998 salary rules to accept the demands, he said, adding that the state government had provided 40 per cent block grant as per the revised Grant-in-Aid Order 2004 which was further enhanced to 60 per cent.
The Block Grant was provided to the school management to ensure full scale of pay out of their funds.
Besides, the Block grant High Schools, 915 Upper Primary Schools, 87 Madarsas were covered under the Block Grant Scheme.
However, the minister turned the table against the Centre stating that though the state government had urged the Centre to make provision for provision of financial assistance to aided and block grant schools for infrastructure development and teachers salary, there was no communication from the Centre.
He, however, informed that the state government has decided to provide bicycles to SC and ST girls reading in Class X in the schools in Tribal Sub-Plan areas and SC and ST boys of Class X reading in aided and Block grant schools.
However, the Opposition did not appreciate the reply of the minister stating that there was no specific announcement to fulfill the demands before the adjournment of the session.
The Opposition took to the Well and urged the Speaker to direct the state government to do the needful.
They would not allow the House to run if nothing is announced in specific. Criticising the government, leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh, NCP floor leader Amar Prasad Satpathy and BJP floor leader KV Singhdeo urged the Speaker to adjourn the House and convene a meeting of leaders of all parties to find out a solution.
They alleged that the state government was ignoring the demands despite the unanimity of both the Opposition and ruling party on the issue.
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