Srinagar, Jan 19 (KNS): The Sarva Shikhshya Abhiyan (SSA), teachers Thursday accused government for not releasing their long pending salaries.
“Though the government had claimed that they had made funds available for the reimbursement of our pending salaries but the fact is that we did not get the pending salaries of last four months,” one of the female SSA teachers posted at Ranawari zone told KNS.
The female teacher said that she is running from pillar to post for her salary, but of no avail. “I haven't received salary of five months and despite repeated requests to the concerned officials, my salary is not released” she said.
“My salary was pending from last four months .After government claims that it has release funds to the SSA, I was expecting the release of my pending salary. But I did not receive any relief till now,” another teacher said.
The Jammu & Kashmir Government had claimed that it has released funds for reimbursing pending salaries of teachers under the Sarva Shikhshya Abhiyan (SSA).
They (Teachers) said that the officials concerned made lame excuses every time and claimed technical snarls at the Central and the state levels as one of the reasons behind the delay,” they maintained.
They said that the Centre sends its share on time. However, it stops sending the funds in case the state government fails to fulfill any of its conditions. “Whatever be the reason, we are suffering for many months now. Without salaries, how can we run our households?” remarked, one of the female SSA teacher.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Sources in the education department said that the main reason for delay in releasing salaries may be the delay on the part of the state government in submitting utilisation certificates (UCs) for the funds provided by the Centre under the scheme.
However one of the officials in the education department said that they have submitted the UCs.
The teachers said that they are planning to hold protests. “If our salaries will not be released within a week, we will start the massive protests against government,” they threatened.
It is to mention here that the government has said that with the changing pattern of SSA Scheme from the Central government, the SSA teachers will be able to receive salaries at the end of every month.
Nayeem Ahktar Education Minister had on record had said that government of India has changed the funding pattern of the SSA Scheme. “First it was disbursed from Central share of (65%) and the state share of (35%) but now it has changed to (90%) central, and the (10%) state.This mess was left by the previous regime. Now I assure that there would be no hiccups in the future as an appropriate system is being put in place to ensure regular flow of funds from the Centre and its proper utilization as per norms, ‘which was not a case in the past’, he had said.
One of the top officials in the government told KNS that the education department has been directed to clear pending salaries of teachers at the earliest on priority. (KNS)