The State Government on Saturday hiked the monthly emoluments of Shiksha Shayaks (SSs) and Junior Teachers engaged in Government Primary and Upper Primary Schools by Rs 1,200 and Rs 2,500, respectively. Making a statement in the State Assembly, Minister for School and Mass Education Rabi Narayan Nanda said the revised pay structure would be implemented with retrospective effect from November 1, 2013.
The hike in the emoluments would cost the State exchequer Rs 176.76 crore annually.
He said that while the Shiksha Sahayaks would now get Rs 5,200 against the existing emolument of Rs 4,000 per month, the Junior Teachers would get Rs 7,000 instead of Rs 4,500.
The Minister said the Government took the decision considering the longstanding demands of these teachers. A total 69,044 teachers, including 33,044 Shiksha Sahayaks and 36,000 Junior Teachers, would be benefited.
While the All Odisha Shiksha Sahayak Association welcomed the decision, the opposition Congress dubbed it as a “poll gimmick”.
leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh said the Government took the decision keeping in view the 2014 general election to woo these teachers in favour of the ruling BJD.
“If the Government is so concerned and has a humane approach, why did it take so long to consider the genuine demands of the lowly-paid teachers and chose the announce on the eve of elections,” he sought to know.