In a drastic move that has sparked outrage, the District Education Officer (DEO) of Khurda has halted the salaries of more than 200 government school headmasters and eight Block Education Officers (BEOs). This severe action stems from an eight-month delay in distributing school uniforms to students across the district.
Directive from DEO Leaves Educators in Distress
The order was issued directly by Khurda DEO Sonamika Ray. She has made it clear that the salaries of the affected officials will not be restored until the uniforms are finally handed out to all students in government schools under their jurisdiction. This decision has not been received well by the teaching community, who feel they are being unfairly penalized for a failure that is not their own.
The headmasters have pointed fingers at the school and mass education department's committee, which is responsible for selecting the vendors—primarily Self-Help Groups (SHGs)—tasked with supplying the uniforms. They argue that the procurement and vendor selection process is handled at the DEO level, leaving school principals with little control over the supply chain.
Who is Really Responsible for the Delay?
One aggrieved headmaster, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that educators are being victimized. "The delay on the part of the approved vendors in supplying the uniforms has led to this fiasco," the headmaster said, emphasizing that field-level officials are being held accountable for lapses in higher administrative processes.
However, DEO Sonamika Ray defended the action. She confirmed that the delay in some schools has stretched to eight months, and salaries were stopped only after repeated warnings to the defaulting headmasters and BEOs. "We have not stopped the salaries of all headmasters in the district. Once the uniforms are distributed, the salaries will be resumed," Ray explained.
Teachers' Associations Threaten Agitation
The move has galvanized teachers' unions, who warn of impending protests if the directive is not withdrawn. Brahmananda Maharana, a member of the primary teachers’ association, vehemently argued that headmasters bear no responsibility for the uniform supply logjam.
"The academic year began in June," Maharana noted. "It is surprising that the higher authorities realized so late that many students were without uniforms. Blaming and punishing the headmasters will only worsen the situation and demoralize the entire teaching fraternity." The association has threatened to launch a significant agitation if the salary stoppage order is not rolled back immediately.
This incident highlights a critical breakdown in the administrative supply chain for essential student resources in Odisha's government schools. It pits field-level educators against district-level administration, with the welfare of students caught in the middle. The resolution now hinges on the expedited distribution of uniforms, while the debate over accountability continues to simmer.
