Chief Minister Raman Singh has signed the order has paved the path of merger of ‘Shikshakarmi’ with School Education department on Saturday as per the promise made to them.
Chief Minister said that this would pave to commence the process of merger from July 1, 2018. Earlier, Chief Minister on June 10, in a public meeting at Ambikapur has announced the decision to merge the ‘Shikshakarmi’, with education department. They were on agitation demanding merger with School Education Department and other hosts of demand. On June 18, in the cabinet meeting a decision was taken to merge 1.3 lakh shikshakarmis of state in first phase and around 10,000 next year. Even, after the decision a section of shikshakarmis are still in agitated mood as they would not get adequate benefit in the merger.
As part of the merger, nine conditions have been laid down. They would now be known as ‘local Body Teacher’. They would have a separate cadre in education department.
As per the conditions, the teacher (Panchayat/Civic Body) in school education department category would be known as ‘local Body Teacher’ (lBT). In early schools, where E-category teachers were posted in Panchayat and civic body category, their new category teacher is lB category while those in T-category posting, posted in Panchayat and civic bodies, they would be known as T-(lB) category. Both these category would have separate cadre.
Teachers of lB category from July 1, 2018 would have 7th Pay Commission wage and other facilities as per the accepted recommendations by state government. All the benefits of pay and service calculations would be done from the merger date of July 1, 2018. No arrears eligibility would be there for the period of service rendered before the merger from July 1. The Teacher lB category would be eligible to have new contributory pension scheme.
The education department would draft the Teacher lB category recruitment, promotion and service rules separately which would be then notified. If any other department service and recruitment rules, is found to be not matching or any provision, then the rules and provisions would be considered as amended as per the order. The teacher (Panchayat/Urban bodies) category appointed if approaches the court against the order, which is pending before the court, then the merger would be initiated as per the court order.