All Assam State Pool Teachers' Association demand due benefits

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The All Assam State Pool Teachers' Association has demanded fulfillment of the assurances given vide a Gazette Notification issued on July 1, 2020 regarding provision of additional service benefits to 11,206 assistant teachers in lower primary and upper primary schools who are working as state pool teachers under the Axom Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) Mission.

The association's president Uday Kumar Rabha told the media here on Monday that they had been appointed as state pool teachers with fixed pay in March, 2017 under the education empowerment scheme.

Subsequently, a Cabinet decision was adopted on May 26, 2020 for providing benefits to the state pool teachers which would be nearly at par with benefits provided to regular teachers. This Notified by the Governor in July, 2020.

Rabha said that as per the Notification, among other benefits the state pool teachers are to be allowed continuation of services till age of 60 years, subject to satisfactory annual performance report etc.; and entitlement of salary as per Revision of Pay (ROP) rules.

He said that on July 18, 2020 the then commissioner of the Primary Education Department had also issued a Notification which directed the Mission Director, SSA Assam, to extend all due facilities to the state pool teachers.

Rabha mentioned that even though they have been serving as state pool teachers for about four-and-a-half years, most of their grievances still stand unaddressed.

Rabha said that despite the commissioner's directive, they have still not received the stipulated Dearness Allowance (DA) and arrear dues.

Among other benefits, the association has demanded payment of salaries through the Treasury, release of medical reimbursement benefit of up to Rs 5 lakh per annum for each teacher and his/her dependents and provision of death benefit to those who die in harness, as is provided to regular teachers.

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