KJDSTA demands govt to implement 5th pay recommendations for deficit teachers

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 10, 2019

SHILLONG: The Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) has demanded the state government to fully implement the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission in relation to the deficit teachers in letter and spirit.

The decision was taken at an executive-cum-zonal meeting of the association held at the State Central Library here on Saturday.

“We have decided to meet the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on August 14, to apprise him of the various pending issues of the deficit teachers for his immediate intervention and necessary action,” KJDSTA president Kular Khongjirem said after the meeting.

He said the state government has only extended the revised pay but is however yet to fully implement the other benefits as per recommendations made by the Fifth Pay Commission for the deficit teachers in the state.

Khongjirem said the meeting has also resolved to demand the government to release the 25 per cent arrear (2nd installment) of the revised pay before the Teachers’ Day celebration, which will be held on September 5.

“On failing, the executive committee of the association will take a call (on its future course of action),” he said adding “We also want the government to release our salary on a monthly basis instead of disbursing the same on a quarterly basis which is once in every three month.”

He said teachers especially those who are taking loans from different banks are facing a lot of problem as they are being summoned every now and then on failing to pay the loan during the months that they do not get their salary.

The KDSTA is also demanded the state government to raise the Dead-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh as per recommendation of the Fifth Pay Commission besides extending the benefits of the Assured Career Progression Scheme (ACPS).

According to Khongjirem, the deficit school teachers should also get the benefits of the ACPS as they are not entitled for promotion.

“We are also demanding the government to extend the medical reimbursement benefit to the deficit teachers as was done for the government employees. In absence of such facility, many teachers who suffer from life threatening diseases like cancer have to surrender to the disease as they cannot afford to pay for treatment,” he said.

The president of the association also expressed concern at the present situation of the female teachers especially those who are giving birth as they are not entitle to take maternity leave.

“Due to this, a female teacher has to also pay half of her salary to the officiating teacher and the other half by the school managing committee. Therefore, we demand that the maternity leave benefit should also be extended to the deficit school teachers,” he said.

Highlighting on the other grievances, Khonjirem said the association is also demanding the government to provide pension benefit, which the deficit teachers at present are not getting except CPF and DCRG.

“As per the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, only teachers who joined after 2010 will get the benefit of the National Pension Scheme while those who joined before 2010 will only get Rs 5,000 per month as pension but we will negotiate with the government as this amount is too meager,” he said.

Meanwhile, the KJDSTA has also resolved to felicitate its former president ED Nongsiang and ex-vice president RS Marbaniang during the upcoming general meeting of the association to be held in the city on August 22.

This will be followed by a workshop to discuss and take the views of the teachers on the draft Meghalaya Service Rules of Aided Schools (Deficit). Khongjirem said the association would then submit its suggestions on the service rules to the state government for its consideration.