Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, July 5: In yet another instance of discrimination with Jammu division, pick and choose method was allegedly adopted in recent release of funds to meet out deficit salary arrears of subject teachers posted in the schools upgraded under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), for the year 2014-15.
Notwithstanding the equal number of Masters under RMSA in both the divisions and therefore almost equivalent amount required to meet out their deficit salary arrears, more than double amount of funds have been released for the Kashmir in comparison to Jammu division, official sources informed the Excelsior.
While only Rs 8.02 crores have been released for the salary arrears of Masters in 267 schools upgraded under RMSA across Jammu division, Rs 18.40 crores were released for almost same number of Masters in 259 such schools in various districts under Kashmir division, sources explained.
According to the order number 132-Noor of 2015, dated 16-06-2015, issued by the Directorate of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), J&K, sanction was accorded to the release of funds to the tune of Rs 28.42 crores in favour of Chief Education Officers of the State to meet out the deficit salary arrears of subject teachers posted in the schools upgraded under RMSA for the year 2014-15.
Pertinent to mention that Masters and Headmaster under RMSA, posted in different schools across the State, were not paid their salary for 5 to six months. This problem erupted after March 2014 when the MHRD squeezed flow of funds to Jammu and Kashmir as the State Government didn’t implement Central guidelines during the recruitment of subject specific teachers for the schools upgraded under RMSA scheme.
Even as the official order claims that the release of funds has been made according to the in-position data received from CEOs, the alleged pick and choose raises a question mark on the criteria adopted for release of the amount.
While elaborating, sources said the funds released in seven out of 10 districts of Jammu division are not sufficient even for clearance of deficit salary arrears of a month. For example, Jammu district has 275 Masters under RMSA and the amount required to meet out their salary for one month is Rs 1.44 crores whereas only Rs one crore were released for the purpose. Similarly for Udhampur, amount required for monthly salary of Masters under RMSA is Rs 78.21 lakh whereas only Rs 50 lakhs were released to meet out the demand while for Reasi district, only Rs 21 lakh were released against the requirement of Rs 60.60 lakh for one month salary. For Kishtwar, only Rs 10 lakh have been released whereas monthly salary of RMSA Masters in the district is Rs 37.04 lakh. In Doda, monthly salary of RMSA Masters is Rs 61.24 lakh whereas only Rs 30 lakh have been released.
Except, Kathua, Samba and Poonch, no district of Jammu division has got sufficient funds for release of pending salary of RMSA Master even for a month.
However, on the other hand, Rs 530 lakhs have been released for Baramulla district, Rs 385 lakhs for Budgam and Rs 200 lakh for Pulwama district, where the demand for clearing deficit salary arrears is far less than the released funds, sources said. Similarly, Rs 147 lakh were released for Anantnag, Rs 100 lakh for Ganderbal, Rs 95 lakh for Kulgam and Rs 103 lakh for Srinagar district.
When contacted, State Project Director RMSA, Ramesh Kumar claimed that the funds have been released as per the in-position data received from CEOs, according to the latest directive received from MHRD, Government of India. “There is no pick and choose or discrimination with any district as the funds have been released as per the demand projected by the CEOs,” he added.
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