Manipur Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar on Sunday said that 3,480 integrated teachers under the department of education (School) are still employees of the state government and the government order for a separate salary head of account was issued for the welfare of teachers.
Addressing the media at the conference hall of RMSA office, Babupara, Imphal West, the minister said due to some misunderstanding between the government and integrated teachers, the 3,480 teachers had undergone agitation, including mass casual leave. However, the order for a separate salary head of account was issued for the welfare of teachers and the integrated teachers are still under the department of education (S), he added.
In a press note issued by deputy secretary (education-S), Elangbam Sonia, it mentioned that the salary portion of erstwhile SSA Primary Teachers, Upper Primary Teachers and RMSA Graduate Teachers continue to be contributed by the Ministry of Education Government of India at Rs 15,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 per month per teacher respectively.
The Finance Department issued the Office Memorandum No. FBUD-9/6/2021-e-FD dated 10/05/2022 to utilise the financial support from the Central Government for payment of salaries of the above teachers. Funds would be reflected in the newly created Head of Account and authorised for expenditure by the State Finance Department irrespective of release of funds by Government of India, it added.
“This has been done in view of the welfare of the teaching community, the Department of Education (5) and the optimal resource utilisation of the State Government and also to ensure Monthly salaries are paid to the Government Employees (with Employee Identification Number (EIN)). This is in line with the new procedure of release of funds mandated by the Government of India under Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Public Finance Management System, opening of Single Nodal Account and transfer of funds to dedicated accounts registered as "Vendor". As detailed in the Finance Department OM this would facilitate and expedite the transfer, reimbursement and booking of the amount of the financial support received for payment of salary. This Office Memorandum issued by Finance Department is not only in respect of Education Department but it is applicable to all Central schemes where we get financial support for salaries.”
The education minister further appealed to the teachers not to continue the agitation but to continue attending the classes as with the new salary head of account it will bring welfare for the teachers.
Meanwhile, asserting that the statement of the education minister failed to bring a clear picture of the ex Samagra teachers, the All Integrated Teachers’ Association Manipur (AITAM) will continue mass sit-in-protest on Teachers’ Day (on Monday) at the premises of the Education Directorate, Lamphel.
In a press note issued and signed by publicity secretary of AITAM, Pamei Zion, the association mentioned that during the protest the representatives will pursue to meet the authority of the department including education minister and education commissioner to clarify all the doubts on both sides.
It said the press briefing by the education minister along with the Commissioner Education (S) is appreciated but at the same time it seems that actual fact of how Samagra teachers were recruited and integrated into the department is not clear at all.
“We were recruited as regular teachers from the very first day of our initial appointment and we have been receiving all the benefits such as DA, Yearly increment and other admissible allowance from time to time”, it added.
Integration process with the approval of the cabinet and Concurrence from Finance and DP was done to change the head of account and Integrate to the Education (S). The Integration order clearly mentioned the Head from which the ex Samagra teachers will be drawing their salary and other allowances, the release added.
It said the press briefing of the education minister was very confusing and they are compelled to think whether the facts about the Samagra teachers are concealed by some officials of the department despite knowing everything about the Samagra teachers.
“Honouring the appeal of the Minister of education to return to the classroom, we would like to inform everyone that we will return to the class room for the sake of the students but a clear picture/fact of the Ex-Samagra Teachers needs to be highlighted to every stakeholders of the department,” it stated.
