BY TC News Desk
Agartala, November 2, 2023: A prominent delegation led by the State Secretary of the Tripura TET Teachers Welfare Association (TTTWA) Ajay Pal, paid a courtesy call to the Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy. The delegation, representing the interests of the state’s teaching community, included state President Rajesh Datta, Organizing Secretary Surajit Debnath, Gomati District President Arup Das, District Secretary Mithun Bhattacharya, as well as Teacher Anup Sarkar, and others.
During the meeting, the delegation presented a detailed demand letter outlining several crucial issues faced by the organization. The Finance Minister engaged in a comprehensive discussion with the delegation, acknowledging the improvements in the state’s education system under the current administration. However, he also highlighted the lingering challenges stemming from previous decisions made by the Left Front government.
One of the primary concerns addressed by the Tripura TET Teachers Welfare Association is the need for “regularization from the first day” to replace the existing five-year fixed salary system. The organization has emphasized that the current government is actively pursuing this goal to establish a regular scale from day one and eliminate the existing system.
Furthermore, the delegation underscored discrepancies in the salary structure for employees, particularly teachers, created by the previous Left Front government. Efforts are underway to devise a new pay structure for teachers and employees.
To address the shortage of teachers in the state, especially at the primary level, the organization has urged the speedy recruitment of unemployed candidates who have passed Teacher Eligibility Tests (TET). Additionally, they have advocated for the introduction of health insurance for Group-C and Group-D employees at all levels.
The Tripura TET Teachers Welfare Association proposed discontinuing the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) initiated by the Left Front and reintroducing the Assured Career Progression (ACP) system due to the lack of a promotion system for teachers.
In anticipation of numerous head teacher positions becoming vacant in secondary and higher secondary schools due to impending retirements, the organization has requested that the Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC) be involved in their recruitment. They have also suggested reducing the teaching experience period from ten years to accommodate eligible candidates.
The delegation has called for revisions to the grade pay of teachers and employees under the state government to address disparities, proposing increased grade pay for various categories to promote financial equity.
The meeting concluded with discussions about the 16th Finance Commission, scheduled to commence in 2024, presenting an opportunity to enhance facilities for employees in the state. The organization anticipates positive changes with a view to strengthening the state’s economy and its overall development.
The Tripura TET Teachers Welfare Association looks forward to the state government’s proactive role in resolving these challenges, aiming to benefit the economic growth of the state while supporting its teaching community, which comprises approximately 1,50,000 members. This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to the state’s developmental endeavours.
