SHILLONG: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the department is examining the proposals of the deficit teachers and assured to address their grievances.
He was replying to a call attention motion moved by Congress MLA Mayralborn Syiem during the autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
Rymbui said the deficit school teachers have from time to time submitted memoranda to the department regarding extension of retirement benefit scheme, regular monthly salary, implementation of 5th Meghalaya Pay Commission, raising of death-cum retirement gratuity (DCRG), pending arrears of revised pay, exemption of graduate, maternity leave and others.
In reply, he said, “The department is examining these proposals and will address the grievances most appropriately in consultation with the Finance, Planning, Law and Personnel Departments to understand the nature of the service and also the consequent budget implications.”
With respect to regular and monthly salary, he clarified that the deficit/aided schools fall under the grant-in-aid category, therefore certain guidelines of the Finance (Budget) Department need to be followed appropriately.
Salary disbursement
On the other hand, the education minister informed that technology-based solutions for disbursement of teachers’ salaries are being developed.The process of preparation of the salary begins at the school level.
The schools prepare the statement of expenditure and utilisation certificate which is mandatory and on submission of the same, the salary statement of the staff is then submitted to the office of the District School Education Officer (DSEO) which examines the statement and consequently forward the papers to the Directorate for final approval.
He pointed out that on many occasions, there is a delay from the schools to submit these necessary documents to the authority and in addition to the delay there are errors such as advance increment without government sanction order, allowances, basic pay calculation and others which need to be returned to the district and further to the concerned school.
The transition of preparation of the statement has resulted in the delay which is beyond the Directorate or the DSEO’s control since the documentation of appointment orders, efficiency bar, increment and others are calculated and recorded at the school level.
He said the government is aware of the disparity in maintaining a regular flow of salary to deficit teachers. “Nevertheless, the department is working on technology-based solutions for disbursement of teachers’ salaries under the Teacher Information System (TIMS) developed by the department and once it is completed it shall be tested for accuracy in collaboration with the Treasury Offices,” he said.He said the department is committed to take adequate steps to ensure that in future, the teachers receive their salary regularly to ease their distress and devote their time in teaching and learning process.
Rymbui assured that the education department will take proactive steps with the active support of the state government to safeguard the welfare of teachers in particular and the quality outcome of education.
He informed the aggrieved teachers and employees of deficit Schools have submitted several petitions to the state government to extend the recommendation of the Fifth Pay Commission and other matters.
Revised pay
He informed that consequent to the petition of the deficit teachers, the state government has extended the revised pay scale and released the first part of the 25% arrear in December 2018.
The state government has financially supported the institutes of deficit secondary, higher secondary and deficit pattern which include 1911 Deficit Lower Primary Schools and 3852 teachers, 132 Deficit Upper Primary Schools and 590 teachers, 12I Deficit Secondary Schools and 2363 teachers and non-teaching staff, 17 Deficit Higher Secondary Schools and 186 teachers and non-teaching staff and 9 Deficit Pattern Secondary Schools and 102 teachers.
Altogether, the salary expenses of 2190 deficit and deficit pattern schools with 7093 teachers and nonteaching staff will come to Rs 418 crore annually. The salary is completely borne by the state government.
Service rules
Rymbui informed that a draft document of service rules and policies for government aided teachers are under study and would be brought to the public domain for more consultation.
Taking part in the discussion, Congress MLA H. M Shangpliang said there is an urgent need to provide maternity leave to the teachers.
He also narrated the plight of teachers and sought immediate intervention of the government.
Rymbui added that there is no injustice and no discrimination towards the teachers and said it pains him to hear as such.
Earlier, moving the call attention motion, Syiem said quarterly payment of salaries is a matter of concern stating that he came to know that sometimes the teachers are chased by shopkeepers running behind them to clear their dues. It is hard for those teachers to survive with many children, he said.
He spoke about extension of retired benefit schemes to teachers, death cum retirement gratuity, medical reimbursement and uniform maternity leave.
Rymbui informed that deficit schools teaching & non-teaching staff is entitled to the scale of pay on a par with government teachers, with no pension facilities but with death-cum-retirement gratuity (DCRG) & CPF facility @ 8% of the basic pay per head per month contributed by the state government.