A delegation of the Odisha State Private College Teachers and Employees’ Association on Thursday renewed its demand for the implementation of full grant-in-aid during a high-level meeting held in Bhubaneswar, even as lecturers across the state continue their agitation over long-pending government assurances.
The meeting was held at Toshali Bhawan in Satyanagar and was attended by Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, who represented the state government. Senior officials from the Higher Education Department were also present. Discussions focused on the existing grant-in-aid policy and the status of commitments made by the government in the past.
During the meeting, the association reiterated its demand for extending full grant-in-aid benefits to lecturers and employees appointed between 2008 and 2018 in both grant-in-aid and non-grant-in-aid private colleges across Odisha. The association maintained that implementing the policy was essential to ensure parity among staff and to resolve long-standing grievances in the private college education sector.
Odisha State Non-Government Lecturers and Employees’ Association (OSNLEA) President Biswaranjan Das said the 2008–2018 Anudan Niti was placed before the committee in the presence of the Chief Minister’s representative, the Higher Education Department Secretary and the Director. He added that the committee assured further discussions with the department and promised to write to the Chief Minister on the issue.
The association expressed hope that the assurances given during the meeting would lead to concrete action in the coming days.
