Not paid since Jan, shiksha mitras rue dashed Holi plans

Prayagraj: For the 1.39 lakh shiksha mitras working in state’s government primary schools, the festival of Holi might be one without any joy. Reason: they haven’t been paid any honorariums or dues since January 2020.
Although the state government had sanctioned the funds to pay their dues on Friday, the process might take three to four days before the money is credited to their bank accounts. As banks remain shut for the next three days on account of it being a Sunday and then Holi, shiksha mitras might not get their due share any time soon.
“Earlier, shiksha mitras used to get paid by the seventh of every month. However, since the past two months, we have not received any money. Holi is just three days away and the banks would re-open only after Holi. The delay will mar our celebrations,” said secretary of UP Prathmik Shikshamitra Sangh Kaushal Kumar Singh. Of the 1.62 lakh shiksha mitras working in UP schools, 1.39 lakh have been hired under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The remaining 23,000 have been hired by the state basic education department directly.
Basic shiksha adhikari (Prayagraj) Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha said that the shiksha mitras would now be paid only after Holi. “We haven’t yet received any funds and it would take some time to complete all formalities. Now, that the banks are closed till Holi, they would ony be paid after the festival.”
Appointed as part of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, shiksha mitras suffered a huge set back on July 25, 2017 when their regularisation against vacant posts of assistant teachers was quashed by the Supreme Court. The apex court had upheld an earlier order of the Allahabad high court delivered in this regard.
Almost overnight, our monthly earnings came down to mere Rs 10,000, almost one-fourth of what we were earning as assistant teachers,” said a shiksha mitra in city.