Srinagar, Dec 31 (KNS): The teachers, recruited under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) have been awaiting salaries for more than past four months and have been facing immense hardships.
A group of SSA teachers Saturday told KNS that they had received salaries for June, July, but are yet to be paid since July. “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.
Another teacher who wished not to be named told KNS that they are running from pillar to post for their salaries, 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,” he said.
One of SSA 3rd teacher said, “My salary was pending since August. I was expecting the release of my pending salary but I was shocked when my account was deposited with only one month’s salary”.
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.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
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 Akhtar 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.
The aggrieved teachers said that the state government is supposed to submit the utilization certificates before the MHRD after every three months. “We never come to know that they have ever submitted these certificates in time. The incompetence and lack of work culture are the cause behind the blockade of central funds in our scheme,” said one of the SSA teachers.
However 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)