Insaaf Times Desk

In an election year, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken a significant step in favor of grant-in-aid and non-aided teachers as well as non-teaching staff. The government has constituted a high-level committee that will conduct regular reviews on pay scales, honorariums, grants, and discrepancies related to payments for these employees.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, announcing the decision on social media, described it as “big good news for teachers” and assured that all pending issues, including pay scale demands of non-aided teachers, will now be addressed with concrete action.

According to the Education Department’s notification, the committee will be chaired by the Chief Secretary of Bihar. Other members include the Development Commissioner, senior officials from the Education, General Administration, and Finance Departments, the Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board, the Secretary of Minority Welfare Department, and the Directors of Secondary and Primary Education. The Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department has been designated as the Member Secretary. The committee will hold meetings every month.

Responsibilities of the Committee

Timely release of assistant grants

Determination of pay scales/honorariums for non-aided teachers

Resolution of discrepancies in salary payments

Review of establishment and administrative issues

Submission of corrective recommendations to the government

As per official data, there are around 225 non-aided degree colleges in Bihar, employing nearly 15,000 teachers and staff. In addition, 625 high schools and 599 intermediate colleges collectively employ more than 25,000 teachers and non-teaching employees. This means over 40,000 education workers could benefit directly from the government’s move.

Teachers’ associations have welcomed the decision but cautioned that the committee’s recommendations must not remain confined to paper. They stressed that unless salary and grant payments are ensured in a time-bound and transparent manner, the real benefit will not reach those in need.

Experts believe the decision holds major political significance in an election year. However, providing pay scales to non-aided teachers could impose a heavy financial burden on the state exchequer. All eyes are now on the committee’s first meeting and the government’s subsequent actions.