8th CPC: Teachers demand equal pay, old pension

On Friday, a central government school teachers' body representing teachers from various schools across India met with the 8th Pay Commission in New Delhi. The teachers demanded equal pay, allowance, and service conditions for all central government teachers, irrespective of their location. Manjeet Singh Patel, National President of the All India NPS Employees’ Federation (AINPSEF), emphasized the importance of uniformity in facilities provided to teachers, stating that salaries and other allowances should be equal across all regions, including Delhi, Bihar, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

With these expenses being nearly the same in different cities, the teachers argued that the pay scale and allowances should also be equal.

Among the key demands, the teachers highlighted the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the retention of a 65-year retirement age for school teachers. The body also proposed increasing the leave allowance and promoting 50% of departmental teachers to the post of principal, along with a 25% examination quota. Additionally, they suggested creating a new promotional post of Head of Subject, which would carry a grade pay of Rs 5,400, and raising the grade pay of vice principals to Rs 6,600.

The teachers' body also raised concerns regarding promotion opportunities for Delhi government teachers, asking for a 100% promotional quota for vice principals. Furthermore, they demanded more leaves for central government teachers, proposing 14 casual leaves, 30 earned leaves, and 20 medical leaves per year. Delhi government teachers were specifically asked to have the option to choose between the Delhi Government Employees’ Health Scheme (DGEHS) or the Central Government Employees’ Health Scheme (CGEHS) upon retirement.