Relief for teachers at partially aided schools in Maharashtra; next phase of grant approved
Additionally, the state government has also declared that schools which have failed to meet the minimum qualifying criteria to gain the partially aided status despite multiple scrutiny will no longer be considered for any aid
Dada Bhuse’s remark is aimed at boosting the morale of workers ahead of the polls and at curbing any drift within the ranks at a time when both the BJP and the Shiv Sena have accused each other of engineering defections. (File Photo) In a relief to hundreds of teachers at partially aided schools across Maharashtra, who had been protesting at Azad Maidan due to delayed disbursement of grants, the state government has declared an additional expenditure of 970.42 crore in salary aid.
School education minister Dada Bhuse on Friday made the announcement in the legislative Assembly regarding the next phase of aid for partially aided schools. Stating that a meeting was held in this regard on Thursday, the minister declared that the next phase of grant is approved for salary aid of a total 49,562 teachers teaching in 6,075 schools in the state. Whereas additionally, 2,714 teachers have been freshly qualified for the partially aided category to receive a 20 per cent salary grant from the government. A total of Rs 970.42 crore has been approved as additional expenditure for this grant.
Additionally, the state government has also declared that schools which have failed to meet the minimum qualifying criteria to gain the partially aided status despite multiple scrutiny will no longer be considered for any aid. “But as they fail to meet the qualifying criteria prescribed by the Maharashtra Self-Finance School Act, as they started before this act was made applicable, they will be allowed to function under a special category. But they will not qualify to demand any grant from the government,” said an official from the state’s school education department.
Sanjay Daware from Kayam Vinaanudanit Shala Kruti Samiti, which is one of the teachers’ organisations fighting for this, said, “It is a welcome move as the government has delivered on its assurance. However, we were expecting that the grant will start from July, but it is starting from August. Further we hope that the government will ensure an increase in the percentage of funding as decided earlier when these schools were given the status of partially-aided.”
As hundreds of teachers protested at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan recently, several leaders from the opposition such as Sharad Pawar and Rohita Pawar had paid visit to aggrieved teachers.
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