Bhubaneswar: In a major decision aimed at addressing the long-pending demands of teachers and non-teaching employees, the Odisha government has approved the implementation of altogether 15 recommendations of the Ashok Kumar Tripathy Committee.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday after detailed examination of the committee’s recommendations by the School and Mass Education Department and the Higher Education Department.
The State government had constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of retired IAS officer Ashok Kumar Tripathy to examine various demands raised by teachers, lecturers and employees working in government educational institutions, as well as government-aided and unaided private educational institutions under the two departments.
The 15 recommendations approved for implementation include bringing 194 high schools, which were deprived of grants under the 2013 Government Block Grant scheme, under the grant-in-aid system.
The monthly remuneration of part-time art, music and physical education (sports) teachers working in government schools will be increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 16,000.
The government has also decided to release arrears of salaries to Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) and Physical Education Teachers (PETs) of government secondary schools who completed six years of service and were regularised in 2022.
Other major decisions include regular promotion of primary school teachers and regularisation of Sikshya Sahayaks appointed between 2016 and 2018.
The government will also recruit regular teachers for Prathama and Madhyama Sanskrit Tols and deploy teachers in fully aided Madhyama Sanskrit Tols. Classical teachers working in government schools will be included in the Trained Graduate (TG) teacher eligibility category.
Besides, vocational instructors will be paid salaries under the regular salary structure, while Odisha Junior Teachers (Schematic) will be given opportunities to acquire higher qualifications.
Several decisions have also been taken concerning Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas. These include completing and operationalising all residential hostels, ensuring regular salary payments to all employees and allowing the children of Adarsha Vidyalaya employees to study in these schools.
The government has further approved protection of past service and pay for TGT teachers appointed in Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas.
In another significant decision, AI and Robotics laboratories will be established in Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas to promote technology-based education among students.
Meanwhile, the demand for pension benefits by block grant employees was also discussed at the meeting. However, as the matter is currently under active consideration of the High Court, the government has decided to take appropriate action after receiving the court’s order.