| Despite discharging duties in COVID-19 pandemic, teachers deprived of TA benefit | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 11: Despite the fact that a large chunk of government teachers have been continuously discharging their duties during COVID-19 pandemic, but shockingly they have been deprived of their Travel Allowance (TA) while being engaged by government to perform various duties.
Sources told Early Times that government had engaged these teachers for conducting health survey, distribution of Mid-Day Meal ration and books to the children at their door steps in all districts since the month of March but the TA entitled to them, has not been released for the month of April, 2020 till date.
“As per rule, every government employee is entitled to TA, if he/she discharges his/ her official duty even for one day but on the contrary, teachers have been continuously working during lockdown but yet they are not given this benefit,” they alleged.
It has been observed after raising this issue by the teachers community to various level, the Deputy Commissioner Udhampur has issued an order regarding Transport Allowance of teachers and other employees deployed in providing duties in COVID -19 at different areas in Udhampur but in other districts no such order has been issued due to which employees are feeling betrayed, they informed.
“Despite lockdown teachers have been taking classes from first to 12th level on whatsapp groups, online, video conferencing, zoom conferencing classes etc yet their contribution has not been given due recognition as well as consideration, which is unjustified and discriminatory in nature,” they alleged.
While talking to Early Times, a teacher informed that they have been performing their official duty by contacting children and making them to join designated whatsapp groups meant for imparting class-room like teaching adding that study material on daily basis is being sent to them on such platforms. “The teachers are directly contacting students on their mobiles and taking reviews of study material being sent to them and helping them in case of any difficulty but in case of children of primary wings, we have added their parents’ contact numbers in whatsapp groups and keep the flow of study material intact,” he informed. |
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