By IANS,
Kolkata : After getting their salary on the first day of the month, there is now more good news for the teaching community in West Bengal. Soon, the teachers in government and government-aided schools will get their pension immediately after their retirement, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced Friday.
“The school teachers are now getting their salary on the first day of the month – instead of the 10th. We have also decided that they will get their pension immediately after their retirement. Nowadays they get their pension years after their retirement. In many cases it reaches their family members after the death of the beneficiaries,” said Banerjee at the state secretariat – Writers’ Buildings.
She said hitherto, the pension was calculated in the school and then forwarded to the concerned department.
“It was a lengthy, delayed and faulty system. The helpless teachers after their retirement had to run from pillar to post to get their pensions,” the chief minister said.
“After a meeting with the school education and higher education departments, we have decided that a provisional pension scheme will be introduced, so that the teachers get their pension on the first day of the month after their retirement,” said Banerjee.
This scheme will help the retired teachers a lot and the other settlements will be added later, she said.
She also said different categories of teachers like para-teachers (teachers under contract), part-time teachers, primary teachers, Madhyamik Siksha Kendra, Sarba Sikha Kendra teachers will be brought under one umbrella – the school education department.
“We have decided to bring all such categories of teachers under the school education department for the benefits of the teachers and so that they are able to enjoy more respect and dignity,” said the chief minister.
All the para-teachers and part-time teachers who are eligible for primary teacher posts will be absorbed in phases while unemployed youths with B.Ed degree will also be absorbed soon.
“It will take some time and within three years time, everything will be settled,” said Banerjee.