Bhubaneswar: Equal pay for Equal work. If two persons with similar educational qualification, experience are doing similar work, they should have equal financial benefit. This is being complied to in other states while Odisha has lagged. It is important to set the system in a disciplined way so that streamlining makes things easier. This was the observation of former MP Baijayant Jay Panda who met the agitating teachers and heard their grievances at lower PMG today here.
Stressing on reopening of schools and teachers returning to teach, Panda said, “In the absence of proper education, many of our youngsters are going to far off places to work in brick kilns. I have rescued many such youths from such situations. But it is shocking that those who get good education also are not able to get jobs.” The illogicality and anomalies in our education system in the state need to be immediately addressed, he further stated.
Known to be raising vital issues concerning the state and the country in general, the former MP said he will certainly take the issues of the teacher at the right fora. “I can and will raise the issue at the Centre and state but how far they will act on it is up to them,” Panda said.
Citing his own example, Panda said that allegations were also levelled against him but those who went with the complaints immediately shared with the media that they were instigated to say so. “Such signs are not good for a democracy and seem like we have a kangaroo court.”
On whether any action will be initiated against Rout, the parliamentarian said, “I do not know. But I can say this much that Biju Babu’s followers are no more in the party that started in his ideologies.”
Prasanta Patnaik