KOHIMA, MARCH 21 (MExN): The Department of School Education, Nagaland today appealed to the SSA teachers boycotting classes to call off their stir and resume duties for the welfare of the students.
In a press release, the department clarified that the SSA Teachers have been paid up to the month of November 2013 and salary for the month of December 2013 is in the process of release. “Therefore the actual pending salary for release is for the months of January and February 2014 only,” it stated.
It informed that the GOI had released an amount of Rs 9803.02 lakhs during 2013-14, in the form of adhoc Release and 1st Installment. This amount is to be spent for recurring and non recurring expenditure and is not for payment of salary alone, it said. The note added that the funding pattern for the programme is on a ratio of 90% GOI and 10% State Government. It stated that the state government has released 100% of its share, which has been utilized for payment of salary.
“The approximate salary requirement for the SSA teachers for one year is Rs 82.00 Crores. Out of which an approximate amount of Rs 59.00 crores has been spent on salary during 2013-14 and an amount of Rs 23.00 crores is required for payment of the pending salary including arrears,” the department informed.
It stated that the department is anticipating release of the 2nd installment by the GOI for the current year within the month. The due salary and arrears will be released immediately on receipt from the GOI, however, it stated that a specific date cannot be assured. It further said that this was made known to the delegation of the Teachers on March 13, when they had met Department officials in the presence of the General Secretary ANSTA.
On the other points raised by the teachers, i.e. Job security and service condition etc, the school education department said that these are issues to be addressed under relevant Service Rules and existing Government regulations and “may not be combined with the salary issue.”
