A teacher in Odisha’s Bolangir district, Prabhudatta Sahoo, was forced to apply for leave to work as a laborer after not receiving his salary for three months. With no money to buy daily essentials, he was struggling to support his family. Ananya Das, the State Project Director, intervened and directed the immediate release of Sahoo’s salary. She also ordered the release of salaries for all teachers in every district.
In a letter to the bank, Das directed the release of funds to the districts towards teachers’ salaries for FY 2024-25. The Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) letter stated that the amount of Rs 398,32,82,003 should be debited from their SB account and credited to the bank accounts of 30 DEO-cum-DPCs.
The delay in salaries was attributed to technical issues with the digiGOV website used to process the salaries. As a result, many teachers in the ex-cadre have faced delays in receiving their salaries. Sahoo’s case, however, has brought attention to the plight of these teachers, and Ananya Das’ intervention is expected to bring relief to many. By releasing the funds, the government has shown its commitment to supporting its teachers and ensuring that they are able to focus on their work without financial concerns.