Govt to examine recommendation on social security for deficit teachers

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 10, 2019

SHILLONG: The state government is examining the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission on social security for teachers and non-teaching staff of the deficit system or grant in aid educational institutions in the state. 

This was informed by the education minister Lahkmen Rymbui while replying to a call attention moved by opposition member from Nongpoh Mayralborn Syiem on the issue related to deficit school teachers during the Assembly here on Tuesday. 

He informed that the deficit school teachers have also from time to time submitted memoranda to the department with regards to extension of retirement benefit scheme, regular and monthly salary, raising  of death-cum retirement gratuity (DCRG), pending arrears pay, exemption of graduate. 

“The department is examining these proposals and shall address the grievances most appropriately in consultation with the finance, planning, law and personnel department to understand the nature of the service and also the consequent budget implications,” the minister assured. 

On the other hand, Rymbui however said the state government has made an immense contribution to the deficit institutions and have complied with the recommendation to a large extend.

He said altogether the salary expenses of 2190 deficit and deficit pattern schools and 7093 teachers and non-teaching staff which amount an annual expenditure of Rs 418 crore is completely borne by the state government.

He said deficit teaching and non-teaching staffs are entitled to the scale of pay at par with government teachers, with no pension facilities but with DCRG & CPF facility at 8% of the basic pay per head per month contributed by the state government. 

The minister also brought to the notice of the House that the recruitment policy and service rules of the deficit teachers are governed and administered by the school managing committee (SMC) with due approval of the directorate of school education & literacy (DSEL). 

Stating that it is evident that the administration for teaching as well as non-teaching staff of these schools falls outside the ambit of the state government, he said, “Therefore, it is a tedious effort and would amount to a huge expenditure on the government to avail the facilities at par with the government employee, if their recruitment policy and service administration is within the government sector.” 

On the demand to provide regular and month salary, Rymbui clarified that the deficit/aided schools falls under the grant-in-aid category, therefore certain guidelines of the finance (budget) department need to be followed most appropriately.

He said the process of preparation of the salary begins at the school level, where the school prepare the statement of expenditure and utilization certificate which is mandatory and on submission of the same it is then submitted to the office of the DSEO who then forwards to the directorate for final approval. 

However, the minister pointed out that on many occasions there is a delay from the school 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 etc, which needs to be returned to the district and further on to the concerned school. 

Nevertheless, he informed that the state department is working on technology-based solutions for disbursement of teacher’s salaries under the teacher information system (TIMS) and once it is completed it shall be tested for accuracy in collaboration with the treasury offices. 

Meanwhile, the minister further said the state government is seriously looking into the plight of teachers at large in the state despite the financial constrains and aspires to bring about change in the attitude and to uplift and improve the welfare of teachers. 

“A draft documents of service rules and policies such as ‘Service Rules for Government Aided Teachers’ is under study and would be brought to the public domain for more consultation,” he informed.