Private college teachers, employees in Orissa threaten stir

Bhubaneswar, Jul 23 (UNI) The teachers and employees of 233 private colleges in Orissa today threatened to sit on ''an indefinite silent dharna'' in front of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's residence from August 28.

The All Orissa Non-Government College Teachers and Employees Coordination Committee Convenor Ramahari Bisoi told mediapersons here that similar 'dharna' would also be staged in front of the state assembly from the same day in support of their demand.

The Committee demanded the state government provide grant-in-aid to 233 private colleges, which was discontinued since 1994.

Mr Bisoi said around 4,000 teachers and employees were working in the colleges for the last 22 years without salary, alleging that no steps were in sight to resolve their problems despite making repeated appeals.

''The government had earlier assured the Committee in November last to take a final decision in the Cabinet in this regard, but nothing happened,'' he added.

Finding no alternative, the committee was forced to take the path of agitation, according to the Convenor.

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