Retired school employees & teachers demand one-time financial assistance

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam High School Retired Teachers' and Employees' Association (Newly Provincialised), Assam, has demanded Rs 30 lakh as one-time financial assistance for the employees and teachers, who had retired after the provincialisation of educational institutions in 2013; and who had been rendering their services sans salary. It has also demanded that the government must provide pension under the OPS (Old Pension Scheme) to the teachers who have been appointed before 2004.

In a statement, the general secretary of the association, Nipendra Nath Sarma told The Sentinel here on Thursday, "These teachers have been deprived of their dues because they were not included in the NPS (National Pension Scheme)."

Sarma added, "On February 5, the then Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had distributed appointment letters to TET (Teachers' Eligibility Test)-passed candidates. During the programme, Sarma stated that the government had made a provision to provide Rs 10 lakh as a gratuity to a teacher even if he/she opts for retirement after working for just 10 days. Now, as Sarma is the incumbent Chief Minister, he should take the initiatives to bring his statement to fruition."

Underlining the NPS that was introduced in 2005, Sarma argued that the teachers appointed before 2004 should not be brought under the scheme. "We were appointed before 2004; and, our schools were provincialized in 2013. The government should provide us with the pension under the OPS or DCRG (Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity)," stressed Sarma.

"When Class VIII of the venture schools was recognized, the teachers and staff received an Ad-Hoc grant of Rs 2.60. Thus, the government should give us the status of government employees since those days. Already, the retired teachers and employees of venture schools that were provincialized in 1991 and 1995 are receiving their pension and DCRG from the Ad-Hoc receiving date," added Sarma.

An FIR has been filed at Jorabat OP, under Basistha Police Station. Further probe is underway.

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