Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: All Teachers’ Association Jammu & Kashmir has sought uniformity in the payment of HRA payable to the Government school teaching staff irrespective of their place of posting whether falling under municipal limits or not.
A deputation of All Teachers Association J&K, led by Mrignayani Slathia, State President, met Director School Education Jammu, Dr Ravi Shankar Sharma and discussed various issues pertaining to the teaching community. The deputation presented the Director a memorandum enlisting various demands of the teaching fraternity.
Demanding uniformity in the HRA, the memorandum stated that J&K has adopted a policy whereby it gives HRA at higher rates (16%) to those serving in the Municipal areas whereas those who are serving in rural areas are getting HRA at lower rate (8%). With the advancement in technology, the whole world is being considered a global village, yet the Government is considering its rural areas and the municipal areas as if there is world of difference between them, she added.
“Higher rates of HRA are alluring the Government teachers to seek job in the urban areas where they get more comfort and higher pay,” she explained and demanded that the HRA in the rural and urban areas be made equal so that no discrimination is meted out to those teachers serving in the rural areas.
Through the memorandum, the Association also demanded removal of pay anomaly of Masters. “Before the 6th Pay Commission, the Masters in School Education Department were getting salaries equal to the AAOs and SOs. In the 6th Pay Commission, Pay Grade of Masters was fixed as 9300-34800+ GP 4280 whereas the pay Grade of the AAOs and SOs was fixed 9300-34800 + GP 4600. Further perpetuating the said Discrimination in 7th Pay Commission, the Masters have been placed at level 6E which starts with Rs 35900 whereas the Masters deserved to be placed at level 7 which starts with Rs 44900,” she explained.
Director School Education gave a patient hearing assured the deputation to take up the issues of Pay anomalies and demand for equal HRA with Administrative Department.
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