Srinagar, Sep 21 (IANS) The J&K government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the initial five years of service put in by ‘Rehbar-e-Taleem’ (ReT) teachers will be counted as qualifying service for pensionary benefits.
The Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) Scheme was launched in 2000 to address teacher shortages in remote and rural schools. The government appointed highly educated local candidates on merit to staff village schools where outside teachers were reluctant to go.
Appointees initially served for five years on a modest monthly honorarium. After completing five years of continuous satisfactory service, they were regularised as permanent General Line Teachers (GLTs).
The government clarified that ReT teachers regularised before January 1, 2010, fall under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), while those regularised after January 1, 2010, are covered under the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
The clarification was given in response to Starred D.No. 1/6/440 raised by Reyaz Ahmad Khan, MLA from Shangus, Anantnag East, regarding the counting of ReT teachers’ initial engagement period for pensionary benefits and restoration of OPS.
Officials stated that the government has already accorded sanction to count the initial five years of pre-regularisation service rendered by ReT teachers on an honorarium basis, on a notional basis, as qualifying service for pensionary and other retirement benefits, wherever applicable.
The decision was taken vide Cabinet Decision No. 115/09/2014 dated June 19, 2014, and notified through Government Order No. 469-Edu of 2014 dated June 25, 2014. On the issue of OPS, the government reiterated that ReT teachers regularised before January 1, 2010, fall under OPS, whereas those regularised after January 1, 2010, fall under NPS.
The position is in terms of SRO-400 dated October 24, 2009, and the Finance Department’s Office Memorandum No. A/Misc/2012/F/466 dated April 20, 2012.
–IANS
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