PANAJI
A day after the balrath employees threatened to go on strike over non-payment of increased salary since June, the Directorate of Education (DoE) on Wednesday instructed all the government aided institutions, availing the benefits of the balrath buses, to pay the salaries as per the increased rates for the academic year from the month of October, along with the pending arrears.
Stating that this instructions should be treated on “top priority”, Education Director Shailesh Zingade has asked schools to ensure that the salaries and the pending arrears since June, is paid to the drivers and attendants before the eve of Diwali.
With effect from June, the Directorate of Education had increased the salaries of drivers and attendants and accordingly funds amounting to Rs 4.17 lakhs per bus were already transferred to all the schools. According to the circular, the drivers would be paid Rs 17,000 as against Rs 12,000 and attendants would get salary of Rs 10,000 from Rs 6,000 for 11 months, with 5 per cent annual hike.
“The government, in principle, had approved the proposal to increase the rate of remuneration of drivers and bus attendants/cleaners working for the Balrath buses provided to the aided high schools, higher secondary schools and special schools from the month of June 2023, onwards,” the Director said in the circular issued.
“All the government aided institutions, availing the benefits of the Balrath buses are hereby instructed to pay the salaries to their balrath drivers and attendants as per the increased rates for the academic year 2023-24 that is from the month of October, along with the arrears from June 2023 till date, before the eve of Diwali,” the circular added.
The schools are told to make the payment directly into the bank accounts of the drivers and attendants.
