Dimapur, July 18: The “2010 and 2013 batch” of graduate and postgraduate teachers working under the SSA scheme has lashed out at a statement said to have been made by Chief Minister TR Zeliang concerning terminating their jobs at the end of the scheme run.
The group, ‘NSSATA,’ issued a press release on Monday stating their case why they were ‘regular employees.’
The SSA teachers “of 2010 and 2013 batch” said to be numbering around 2, 600 refuted a statement said to have been made by Chief Minister Mr. TR Zeliang in a local newspaper on July 15. He is said to have stated that SSA “teacher employees” were “bound to be co-terminated along with projects and schemes”.
“The SSA teachers of 2010 and 2013 batch were appointed as regular state government employees and are not co-terminus in any case,” the press release claimed. The NSSATA has listed out a number of points for “justification” (given here in verbatim).
(a) As per advertisement No. ED/ADMN/1/2009-10,dated 20-11-2009 and government notification No.EDS/SSA-CPA/009-2008(I) dated 20-10-2009,and NO.EDS/SSA-CPA/009-2008(II) dated 20-10-09,the word co-terminus is not found mentioned in the recruitment norms.
(b) As per appointment order NO. ED/EL/SSA/D-13/2010 dated 04.05.2010,the appointment orders were issued according to the approval of the government vide NO.ED/SSA/CPA/09-2008(PT)dated 29.03.2010.Under terms and condition point (2) it clearly states that in the event of discontinuation of SSA programme, their pay and allowances shall be borne by the state. Point NO.(4)states deduction towards GPF/GIS.
(C) In the advertisement NO.ED/EXAM/2010-11 dated 09.12.2011, for recruitment of teachers there is no reference to SSA or co-terminus.
(d)As per appointment order NO.ED/ESTT-MKG/SSA-5G/12 issued in March 2013 deduction towards NPS @ 10% of the total emolument and GIS should be made.
The organization asserted that the SSA teachers were appointed in 2010 and 2013 and were recruited “with the approval of the three proper channels of the state government.” They were, according to the group, “State Cabinet (ii) P&AR, and (iii) the Finance department, as regular state employees through open competitive examination on merit basis.”
Further, the organization stated, “the examination was conducted by SCERT and appointment orders were issued by the DOSE, government of Nagaland with no interference by SSA Mission Authority.”
During a joint meeting held on May 16, 2016, at the chief secretary’s conference hall, the chief secretary, Finance commissioner, commissioner and secretary for School Education, the additional Director for the department of school education, “all additional directors DOSE, Mission Director SSA” and various subordinate officials “acknowledged that SSA teachers of 2010 & 2013 batch are regular state government employees.”
Besides, the SSA teachers claimed further, the minister for School Education and SCERT Yitachu “acknowledged the nature of our appointment as at par with the rest of the state teacher employees and are entitled for equal service benefit.” The ‘acknowledgement’ is said to have been made by him during a joint meeting of “different associations of teachers” under the department of School Education that was held on May 28 at the Hotel De-Oriental.
Further, “In May 2014, when Smti. Banuo Z.Jamir was the Chief Secretary and Shri. M.Patton was the Commissioner &Secretary School Education, they also had acknowledged that SSA teachers of 2010 & 2013 batch were regular state employees.”
Having stated their ‘justifications,’ the organization has sought redress. “Therefore, on the basis of the above mentioned facts, the question of SSA teachers being co-terminus along with the end of projects and schemes as per the chief minister’s statement does not arise in the context of SSA teachers of 2010 & 2013 batch.”
“Thus being among the regular employees of the state government we are also entitled to get our salary regularly. The DOSE has also included SSA teachers in the seniority list prepared in 2015,” the SSA teachers added.
For our readers, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is Government of India’s flagship programme for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, as mandated by 86th amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory Education to the Children of 6-14 years age group, a Fundamental Right.
SSA is being implemented in partnership with State Governments to cover the entire country and address the needs of 192 million children in 1.1 million habitations.
The program seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant and school improvement grants.
Existing schools with inadequate teacher strength are provided with additional teachers, while the capacity of existing teachers is being strengthened by extensive training, grants for developing teaching-learning materials and strengthening of the academic support structure at a cluster, block and district level.
SSA seeks to provide quality elementary education including life skills. SSA has a special focus on girl’s education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide computer education to bridge the digital divide. (Inputs: ssa.nic.in)
