Contractual teachers demand payment of arrear dues under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The All Assam Primary TET Qualified Teachers' Association has demanded that the Dearness Allowance (DA) announced for contractual employees under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) should be released with all arrear dues as well.

The association's president, Trailokya Deka said that the contractual teachers had been drawing salary under the Rules of Pay (RoP) since 2013, along with DA bonuses. However, he said, the DA was stopped with effect from July, 2019. As a result, other Government employees received up to 34 per cent DA, while the contractual teachers had received just 17 per cent.

Deka said that when they started protesting, the Government added an additional 5 per cent DA from January this year, but there is no clarity as to whether the arrear dues will be paid or not. On September 1 last, the Government announced that 17 per cent DA will be released in two installments. Out of this 10 per cent will be with effect from September 1, 2022 and the remaining 7 per cent will be with effect from April 1 , 2023.

Deka said that 40,000 contractual teachers are not satisfied with this decision of the State Government and added that the DA should be released along with arrear dues. Moreover, the Government should take steps to resolve the contractual teachers' other demands, which include death benefits to their next of kin, introduction of Service Book system, facilitation of bank loan facility, payment of gratuity etc.

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