ORISSA TEACHER'S-- 6TH PAY COMMISSION

Pyari regarded as ‘Lord’ by teachers

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Jan 16: Primary teachers invoked their “Lord” and they succeeded as “He” turned up to assure them that he would do his best to get their demands fulfilled by the government. The living incarnation of the Lord was none other than ruling BJD heavyweight and BJD MP Mr Pyari Mohan Mohapatra.
All this took place on the main thoroughfare leading to the state secretariat here today. Leaders of the Nikhil Utkal Primary Teachers Federation staged a rally and demonstration demanding proper pay fixation as one of their major demands. "For us Pyari babu is chalanti pritima (living incarnation), the one who runs the government," said one of the teachers in the course of their speeches..
The implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission in the state had put the primary teachers at one of the lowest rungs of pay and this needs to be corrected, they said.
"But more than voicing their demands, the teachers were busy eulogising Pyari babu. He refused to come saying he had many important engagements but when we told him that 50,000 teachers were waiting for him, he agreed," said one of the leaders.
Pyari babu, was however at his modest best saying his strength stands doubled by the support of teachers. "I will be your liaison assistant, not liaison officer," he said while assuring to take up the demands with the finance minister.
"The society should hold primary school teachers is high esteem as they are the ones who lay the foundation of a student," he said.
Implicitly referring to the restrictions imposed by the model code of conduct due the municipal elections at Cuttack, Mr Mohapatra said that the state cabinet is likely to meet after 6 February and decisions in favour of teachers will be taken.
His speech was greeted with blowing of conchs and no sooner had he finished the demonstration which was originally planned for the entire day was called off.