By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government is yet to receive any official communication from the Centre on its decision to relax 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.
A senior official State Education department on Sunday said that the State Government has tried to find out about the decision of the Centre through various sources but the same could not be confirmed.
“We have also tried to find out from the website of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry about this decision but there was nothing to be found,” the official said, while adding that they have read about the Centre’s decision in news reports.
Admitting that this decision could provide huge relief to the State Government, the official said they have been requesting the Centre to relax the condition of enhancement of age of superannuation of teachers to 65 years.
“We are also happy to know that the Centre has decided to provide 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,” the official added.
It may be mentioned that State 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 had 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.
The centre allowed provisions of the scheme to 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.