Around 400 Gana Sikshaks and Sikshya Sahayaks of four blocks of the district are yet to get their salaries. The teachers of Gurundia, Lahunipara, Subdega and Koida blocks have not received their salaries since September.
While the Gana Sikshaks draw a paltry sum of Rs 3,500 to 4,000, Sikshya Sahayaks are entitled to Rs 4,500 to 5,000 a month.
Requesting anonymity, a section of the affected irregular teachers lamented that the regular government teachers in these blocks get between Rs 13,000 and
Rs 25,000 for the same work. “Not only is our pay scale low, but we also do not get our salaries on time,” said a Gana Sikshak.
Sundargarh District Primary Teachers’ Association general secretary Sanjay Samal blamed the local inspectors of schools and BDOs for not submitting bills on time which delays the salary.
Samal demanded intervention of the district administration to bail them out. It is learnt the salary-related bills of Sikshya Sahayaks and Gana Sikshaks of only Gurundia block were sent to the treasury, but they are unsure when the payments would be done.
Pointing to the ‘callous’ attitude of block authorities, the association members said cooks and helpers engaged for mid-day meal programme too drew attention of the district administration on Wednesday for delay in payment of salaries.
Sundargarh ADM BB Behera said the administration would expedite payment of salaries before Durga Puja.