From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: In a major relief to Meghalaya and other cash strapped states, the Union Cabinet has ‘relaxed’ the condition of enhancement of age of superannuation of teachers to 65 in state institutions for the implementation of the revised pay scales and payment of arrears.
The Union Cabinet also decided that reimbursement of 80 per cent of the Central share of the arrears be paid in two or three installments to those States who have already made the payment and submitted their proposals for reimbursements to the Central Government, a spokesperson of the Union Government informed on Friday.
The Cabinet decision is expected to provide relief to teachers in State institutions. It will also benefit the state governments who will be able to make the arrear payment in installments and also claim reimbursements simultaneously, the spokesperson said.
It may be mentioned that Meghalaya Education Minister, Prof RC Laloo had placed the demand for relaxation of norms to Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, who had promised to look into this contentious issue.
Earlier, Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) had held a series of agitation including cease work, demanding among others immediate release of their pending arrears.
The State Government finally conceded to their demand and agreed to pay 20 per cent of the arrears, which was the State’s share, while the remaining was to be borne by the Centre.
However, the HRD Ministry had set a condition before the State Government that the 80 per cent funds for the arrears would be released only if the retirement age of college teachers is increased to 65 years.
The State Government was consistently urging the Centre not to link the retirement age with the payment of arrears.
Following the revision of pay scales of Central Government employees on the recommendation of the 6th Pay Commission, the pay scales of teachers and other equivalent cadres was revised and age of
Superannuation was enhanced to 65 years in December 2008. The scheme of revised pay scales was essentially for teachers in Central Educational Institutions.
However, provisions of the scheme could be made applicable by state governments to Universities and Colleges coming under the purview of the state governments, provided the scheme is adopted and implemented as a composite scheme, including the enhanced age of superannuation.
The Central Government decided to provide financial assistance to the extent of 80 per cent as reimbursement to those state governments, which may opt for these revised pay scales for the period January 1, 2006 to March 31, 2010. The remaining 20 per cent was to be borne by the State Government from its own resources.
Many state governments including Meghalaya had requested the Central Government to waive the condition relating to enhancement of age of superannuation of teachers to 65 years as they were finding it difficult to accept it.
They also objected to the condition that the state governments should first disburse the 20 per cent arrears and then seek reimbursement from the Centre for the remaining 80 per cent of the arrears.