By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has decided to release Rs 47 crore to clear the pending payment of the University Grant Commission (UGC) arrears of the college teachers.
This decision to release the pending arrears was taken during a high level meeting convened by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Monday to review the financial position of the State after the end of this first quarter of this fiscal year.
“We have issued directive to the Education department to clear the pending arrears of the college teachers as per the UGC recommendations,” the Chief Minister informed on Tuesday.
Informing that the matter about the pending arrears of the college was brought to his notice in April, Dr Sangma said he was happy that his government has finally been able to release the pending arrears of 80 percent.
When asked about the reason for the delay in releasing of the pending arrears, the Chief Minister said the government had been working very hard to get the requisite fund for payment of the pending arrears.
“In fact certain procedural requirements to effect the release of the funds have been eased off in this particular case as the government wants to ensure that the teachers get their dues,”
It may be mentioned here the Union Cabinet earlier had ‘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 which was major relief to Meghalaya and other cash strapped states
The Union Cabinet had 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.
Earlier, Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) had held a series of agitation including cease work, demanding immediate release of their pending arrears.
The State Government earlier 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.