Teachers’ Day Marked as Black Day in Odisha

Bhubaneswar : Teachers’ Day in Odisha on Friday turned into a day of protest, as thousands of teachers and staff from non-government-aided and unaided institutions observed it as a “Black Day” to press for their long-pending demands.

In Bhubaneswar, members of the Odisha School and College Teachers and Employees Coordination Committee staged a demonstration at Lower PMG Square, demanding block grant inclusion, pension benefits, recognition of service, and financial parity with government institutions. They accused successive governments of neglect and indifference, saying their five-point charter of demands has been ignored for years.

The association’s president, Biswaranjan Das, said that Teachers’ Day will continue to be observed as a day of protest until the government takes action. Protests were also held in Rayagada, where teachers highlighted discrimination in appointments and lack of grant support, and in Soro, where black badges replaced celebrations at Upendranath College.

Teachers recalled holding 12-hour sit-ins before district collectors, collecting 1.5 lakh public signatures, staging a 19-day pen-down strike, and submitting repeated petitions, but alleged that neither the previous BJD government nor the current one has resolved their grievances.

Across districts, the mood was of frustration and determination, with teachers vowing to continue their agitation until their rights are recognised.