Temporary relief for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers, but unrest continues to brew

Senthil Kumar
Rangat, Nov 26: Even as the intervention of the Lt. Governor has brought temporary relief, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan teachers remain in unrest over administrative apathy in grant of other benefits. SSA teachers have been long demanding equal pay for equal work at par with their regular counterparts in the Education Department, age-relaxation or regularization of services of teachers who have served the Department since 2003, 30 % hike of salary every year against the current 10% hike, medical leave benefits and accommodation for SSA teachers serving in inter-islands. However, the failure of the administration in addressing these issues has left the SSA teachers in rage and aggrieved lot has now planned to stage a protest on the 7th of next month.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, SSA teachers of Rangat zone has said that SSA teachers perform duties similar to teachers in the Education Department and their demand for equal pay for equal work is totally justified.
“Currently, SSA teachers draw salaries much less that the regular teachers of the Education Department. Even our demand for 30% annual hike in remuneration has not been met as only 10% of annual hike is granted,” some teachers said.
“We have also been demanding Medical Leave benefits for long, but the administration has till date failed to grant the benefit to the SSA teachers. Moreover, in the absence of government accommodation facilities, SSA teachers are forced to rent private accommodations in inter-island postings on high rates. Many of us serving the department since 2003 have now crossed the age-limit for regular government jobs and persistent appeals for age-relaxation or regularization of services of SSA teachers have yielded no positive results from the Education Department,” said SSA teachers adding that they will hold a demonstration in front of the DEO Office on the 7th of next month to press for their demands.