Hoping that the state government will disburse the salaries of the SSA teachers without further delay, the Union HRD Minister Smirti Irani Friday said that she has issued orders for immediate release of 459 crore to Jammu and Kashmir under the scheme.“I am hopeful that the state government will disburse the Salaries of SSA teachers without any delay. As for as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, the funding pattern for this scheme has changed now. I am happy that we have got approval from the finance minister. I have directed the authorities here to immediately release Rs 459 core for Jammu and Kashmir under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA),”Irani told KNS.She said that the revised funding pattern of the SSA Scheme has been fixed at 90:10, adding that it is painful that these teachers are without their salaries.
The minister also sought state government’s support for completion of works like new schools, additional classrooms, girl’s toilets in schools and other works. “I wish that all the government schools in Jammu and Kashmir would soon have all the basic facilities. I can say that the central government is keenly working on the development of the government schools,” the minister said.It is to mention here that the state education minister Nayeem Ahktar had told KNS that the pending salaries including arrears of SSA teachers would be released in the month of December.“I am glad to announce that the SSA teachers who have suffered a lot due to the nonpayment of their salaries will now receive all their pending dues in the month of the December. The government of India has changed the funding pattern of the SSA Scheme. First it was disbursed from Central share of (65%) and the state share of (35%) but now it has changed to (90%) central, and the (10%) state,” he had said.Teachers engaged under SSA have hit the streets in the Kashmir valley and Jammu demanding salaries for the past several months. (KNS)