Srinagar, Sep 21: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday clarified its stance on pensionary benefits for Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers, ruling out the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for those regularised after January 1, 2010, while confirming that the initial five years of pre-regularisation service will be counted for retirement benefits.
Replying to a starred question by MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan (Shangus, Anantnag East) in the Assembly, the School Education Department as per Kashmir Convener stated that while the government intends to consider the entire service period of ReT teachers for pensionary benefits, the applicability of pension schemes is strictly date-dependent.
“The Government, vide Cabinet Decision No. 115/09/2014 dated 19.06.2014, has already accorded sanction to count the initial five years of pre-regularisation services rendered on honorarium basis by Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers, on a notional basis, as qualifying service for pensionary and other retirement benefits,” the official reply stated, citing Government Order No. 469-Edu of 2014 dated 25.06.2014.
However, addressing the specific demand for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the government clarified that the scheme is only applicable to a specific cohort.
“ReT teachers who were regularized before 01.01.2010 fall under the OPS, whereas ReTs who were regularized after 01.01.2010 fall under the NPS (New Pension Scheme),” the reply stated.
The government cited SRO-400 dated 24.10.2009 and Finance Department’s OM No. A/Misc/2012/F/466 dated 20.04.2012 to justify the classification, effectively denying OPS to those appointed initially under the ReT scheme but regularised after the cutoff date.
The reply was signed by the Deputy Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, on behalf of the Minister In-charge.
In a separate reply tabled in the House, the Health & Medical Education Department provided details regarding the assessment of health infrastructure in the Budgam constituency.
Responding to a starred question by MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, the government confirmed that periodic assessments of infrastructure and human resource requirements are being conducted for health institutions in the region.
“Yes, an assessment of the infrastructure and human resource requirements of the health institutions falling within Budgam constituency is conducted from time to time,” the reply read.
The government stated that specific findings regarding infrastructure projects and manpower requirements have been detailed in Annexure A. Furthermore, the department informed the House that there are currently 33 functional health institutions operating within the Budgam constituency.
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