Bihar Government to increase salary of contractual teachers: Bihar Education Minister

In the Bihar Assembly, the education minister of Bihar, Krishnandan Prasad Verma, announced that the state government would increase the pay scale of the contractual teachers according to its capacity. He also appealed to them to finish their strike taking into consideration the examinations and evaluation works. Approximately 4.5 lakh contractual teachers of the government schools are on indefinite strike since February 17 in support of their eight-point demands. One of the demands includes equal pay for equal work.

The protest is taking place under the banner of Bihar Rajya Shikshak Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti (BRSSSS), Patna. He asserted that the government had been modifying their salary from time to time. He informed that the state government was not against them. Rather the government was working for their interest. He referred to the apex court rule which was against teachers looking to get equal pay for equal work. The rule had stated that neither teachers’ rights were violated nor were they being discriminated against.

The minister asserted this while addressing the house debate on the budgetary demand of Rs 35191.04 crore of his department for 2020-21 fiscal. He observed that Shiksha Mitras were getting Rs 1500 per month stipend in 2003. In July 2006, the Nitish Kumar government appointed them as teachers on a fixed pay of Rs 4000 and Rs 5000 (for trained) with a retirement age of 60.

Apart from this, he asserted that Bihar had become the first state to start "books bank" in the country. He further added that 30-35 per cent of children were given books from the bank which help in printing fewer books for students.

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