GUWAHATI: Contractual teachers in Assam are confronted with a choice between two options by the state government, either continue in their current roles with a pay increment or opt for regularisation, starting afresh but forfeiting the current increment, leading to a reduced salary, as of an announcement by Assam State Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on November 16.
The demand for unconditional regularisation of the posts has been a longstanding plea from contractual teachers. There are approximately 25,500 contractual teachers under the Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) and an additional 9,500 under the state pool. The state government has initiated the regularisation process, as announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Independence Day.
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, however, has outlined specific conditions for the regularization of contractual teachers in the current financial year. Responding to the teachers' demand for unconditional regularization, Pegu held a meeting with them and stated, "If there is any precedent for such regularisation (without pre-conditions) according to the rules and acts, we will discuss along these lines."
Highlighting the existing rules and acts governing the regularisation process, Pegu mentioned the Finance Department's regulations and the Budget Management Act of 2005. He clarified that a teacher's career would be counted from the day the post is regularized or provincialized, prospectively.
Pegu underscored the unique status of contractual teachers, noting that although they are not fully regularized, they receive salaries based on the Revised Pay Structure (ROP) and a 42% Dearness Allowance (DA). Despite having the status of near-regularization, they do not receive pension benefits, unlike regularized teachers.
He explained, "So, I give two options to them. They can continue as contractual teachers and get incremental pay or opt for regularization, in which case they will have to start their careers afresh." Pegu revealed that a committee, formed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is currently examining all aspects of regularization, and a comprehensive report is expected within 10 days. The subsequent course of action will be determined based on the committee's recommendations.