Teachers ask govt to restore old pension scheme

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 8

The Himachal Pradesh Government Teachers Union (HGTU) has criticised the state government for dithering on the release of 4-9-14 time-scale to teachers and restoration of the old pension scheme.

Union members met in Bilaspur on Saturday. They demanded that 4-9-14 time-scale be released immediately as assured by the Education Minister and the old pension scheme too be resorted.

The members said the Central, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Governments, which had implemented the National Pension Scheme, were giving benefits to the families of employees, who had died on duty.

They said the state government should also follow suit.

They regretted that during a meeting with the Education Secretary on April 17 and with the Education Minister on May 1, a consensus was reached on 48 demands and June 3 was set as the deadline for implementing the decision, but nothing had been done to date.

President of the union Virendra Chauhan said the members opposed the recruitment of teachers by the School Managing Committees (SMCs) and demanded that all contract and ad hoc appointments be stopped forthwith and the teachers should be appointed batch-wise or through the HP Subordinate Services Selection Committee on a regular basis.

The members decided to increase the annual membership fee from Rs 100 to Rs 200 and also enhance the powers of the president.

It also approved a proposal to give membership to retired teachers and create a separate cell for them.

The union also decided to celebrate its golden jubilee in September.