Mamata Banerjee announces benefits for state government employees including promotions

Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced a slew of benefits for state government employees, including better promotion opportunities, increased cashless benefits under the health scheme and allowances for SSK (Shishu Shiksha Kendra) and MSK (Secondary Education Centre) teachers. Are.
The announcement came during the Chief Minister’s meeting with the representatives of employees’ unions loyal to the Trinamool Congress at Nabanna. The benefit was announced at a time when a section of employees of state government and state-aided institutions were agitating demanding dearness allowance.
The state government, while making changes in its Modified Career Advancement Scheme (MCAS), made it clear that the employees will now get assured promotion in service life of eight years, 15 years and 24 years.
Earlier, assured promotions were given at eight years, 16 years and 25 years of service.
Apart from this, the limit of cashless benefit under the West Bengal Health Scheme has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
A series of benefits were announced for nearly 70,000 teachers in MSKs and SSKs, which are run by the Departments of School Education and Minority Affairs in remote areas.
SSK and MSK teachers will get an assured increment of three per cent annually and a one-time payment of Rs three lakh on retirement.
Sources said that the benefits announced for SSK and MSK teachers were very important in view of the panchayat elections round the corner. These teachers are very influential as they teach in villages where formal schools are not available.
“The ruling establishment is clearly trying to reach out to them ahead of the rural elections. The move can be considered a smart move,” said a source.
Sources said the announcement was significant from the point of view of the ruling establishment as a section of employees were continuing their agitation demanding DA.
“Government employees will play an important role in conducting the panchayat elections. If their grievances are not redressed, it may backfire for the ruling party, as teachers of state-aided schools play the role of opinion leaders in rural areas. Apparently the Chief Minister tried to pacify them with the resources available with the state government.
A section of officers said that state government employees are getting 38 per cent less DA as compared to central government employees.