Black Day observed

BHUBANESWAR: Around 24,000 teachers and employees of 1,983 block grant high schools of the State on Monday observed the Teachers’ Day as black day.They have been on an indefinite strike since August 1 demanding immediate abolition of block grant payment and reinstatement of the grant-in-aid system.They wore black badges and staged demonstrations in front of all the collectorates. At several places, they took out silent rallies and submitted memorandums, addressed to the Chief Minister, to the district collectors.“It is very unfortunate that because of Government’s apathy, we have been forced to observe September 5 as black day. No other state treats its teachers with such disrespect,” said president of the Orissa Block Grant Secondary School Teachers and Employees Association Prashant Mohapatra.He added the association had decided to besiege the 314 block offices across the State on September 8 and block vehicular traffic on State and National Highways in their respective areas. This apart, the teachers, students and their guardians would hold a mass agitation in front of the Secretaiat on September 10.