Teachers protest new salary head account; Dept clarifies
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 02 2022: In protest against introduction of a new salary head account, teachers of Churachandpur and Noney districts under the aegis of All Integrated Teachers' Association Manipur (AITAM) took casual leave for two days and staged sit-in-protest on Friday.

Amid the on-going agitation by the teachers, Education (S) Department observed that the information published in some local newspapers regarding the change of salary head account could be due to instigation by few teachers.

In fact, the report is contradictory to reality and such misgivings totally unfounded and their proposed agitation not in the interest of students, the Department said.

In a statement issued Friday, Education (S) deputy secretary Elangbam Sonia explained that the salary portion of erstwhile SSA primary teachers, upper primary teachers and RMSA graduate teachers continues to be contributed by the Union Ministry of Education at the rate of 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 May 10) to utilise the financial support from the central government for payment of salaries of the said teachers.

Funds would be reflected in the newly created Head of Account and authorised for expenditure by state Finance Department irrespective of release of funds by Government of India.

This has been done in view of the welfare of teaching community, the Department of Education (S) and the optimal resource utilisation of the state government and also to ensure monthly salaries are paid to the government employees (with EIN), it said.

The deputy secretary continued that this is in line with the new procedure of release of fund 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 office memorandum, this would facilitate and expedite the transfer, reimbursement and booking of amount of the financial support received for payment of salary.

This memorandum issued by Finance Department is not only in respect of Education Department but it is applicable to all central schemes where the state gets financial support for salaries, the) deputy secretary explained.

The statement further mentioned that the erstwhile RMSA graduate teacher, upper primary teacher (SSA) and primary teacher (SSA) were integrated and absorbed into the Department of Education (S), Manipur as regular teachers (vide orders No.24/1/1-2/07-DE(S)Vol-III(Pt) dated July 23,2020) with effect from the date of their initial appointments.

They continue to be employees of Manipur state Education Department, it stressed.

Prior to issuance of the statement, hundreds of.

teachers from various government schools took part in the protest held at the ZEO Churachandpur office and they held placards some of which read 'no change of salary head', 'no segregation among teachers', 'equal work for equal status', etc.

According to AITAM member Mary Haokip, the protest was staged to show resentment to the government for introduction of a new salary head account for all the integrated teachers.

She said that Samagra teachers have been absorbed and integrated into the state education department as regular teachers but authority concerned is planning to change head account to CSS which is unacceptable to all the former SSA teachers.

In Noney district, responding to the statewide agitation called by AITAM, primary and graduate teachers of the district under Education department staged a sit-inprotest in front of ZEO office, highlighting their unfulfilled demands to the state government.

The sit-in-protest was held in support of AI-TAM's demands by holding placards written as 'Don't Demoralise Teachers', 'No Change of Salary Head', 'Remove Incompetent Director', 'Equal Work Equal Salary', etc.

The agitation will continue on Saturday.

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