DIMAPUR, MAY 4 (MExN): The Nagaland Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers' Association (NSSATA) today stated that the Nagaland state government has not been adhering to the central funding pattern with regard to SSA funds.
A press note from the NSSATA today while alleging this highlighted the details of the funding patter from the MHRD with regard to the SSA programme.
It informed that the central government releases adhoc grants in April every year for the start-up programme followed by two installments. The first installment released in April for expenditure between April to September followed by the second installment in September for expenditure between October to March.
It further informed that the Project Approval Board (PAB) GoI rules/guidelines and procedure for release of funds clearly states that whenever the Government of India releases the fund to the State exchequer, the State has to immediately transfer the entire amount to its implementing agency (SMA) not later than 15 days and the State Government has to deposit its matching share (i.e. 10%) to the State society within 30 days of the receipt of the Central fund and thus submit the Utilization Certificate on time to ensure smooth implementation of the programme.
Referring to the press release dated March 8 issued by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Nagaland relating to delay in payment of teachers’ salaries under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) of SSA (DoSE), the NSSATA said that this “clearly points out the fact that the Nagaland State Government has not been adhering to the central funding pattern.”
It added that the “question of delay in releasing of funds from MHRD and payment of (2010 & 2013 batch) teachers’ salaries does not arise.” The NSSATA demanded that the government fulfill the written assurance dated November 2, 2016 issued by the Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Nagaland by paying all the pending salaries from November 2016 to February 2017 along with the arrears of 2016 immediately.
Failure to comply with the written assurance, the NSSATA cautioned that the teachers would be forced to “apply any form of action to fight for our survival and livelihood.”
