In a significant move for the educational staff of Uttar Pradesh, the state government has released a fund of ₹250 crore to facilitate the increased salaries of Shiksha Mitras and Instructors. Under this new directive, Shiksha Mitras will now receive a monthly salary of ₹18,000. This decision is expected to provide substantial financial relief to thousands of employees across the state.
Salary Increment Details and Implementation Timeline
The Uttar Pradesh government has officially increased the honorarium for Shiksha Mitras from ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 per month. Similarly, the salary for instructors in Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) has been raised from ₹9,000 to ₹17,000 per month. These revised pay scales have been effective since April 1st, and the increased amounts will start reflecting in the bank accounts of the employees from May 1st.
Beneficiary Statistics and Additional Welfare Benefits
67 lakh employees in the state.
In addition to the pay hike, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently announced that Shiksha Mitras would now be eligible for transfers, while Also, they and their families will be covered under a cashless medical insurance scheme providing up to ₹5 lakh in coverage.
Political Debate Over Salary Hike
The increase in honorarium has sparked a political debate ahead of the upcoming administrative cycles. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the decision, claiming that during his tenure, Shiksha Mitras were effectively receiving up to ₹40,000. He alleged that the current hike is a result of electoral pressure and termed the increase insufficient after several years of stagnation.
Legal and Policy History of Instructors
The issue of instructors' honorarium has a complex legal history. In 2017, a proposal was made to increase their pay from ₹9,000 to ₹17,000, but it wasn't implemented following a change in government. After a legal battle, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court initially ordered the payment of ₹17,000 along with 9% interest. The state government challenged this, and the matter eventually reached the Supreme Court. On February 5th, the Supreme Court dismissed the state's appeal and directed that instructors should remain in service even after their contract periods, noting that their positions had effectively become permanent. The court also ordered the implementation of the ₹17,000 honorarium effective from 2017.
The Legal Journey of Shiksha Mitras
The recruitment of Shiksha Mitras in Uttar Pradesh began in 2001. During the Samajwadi Party government (2013–14), many Shiksha Mitras were adjusted as assistant teachers. However, in 2015, the Allahabad High Court cancelled these appointments, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court on July 25, 2017.78 lakh assistant teachers were reverted to Shiksha Mitra positions, and their salaries plummeted from nearly ₹50,000 to just ₹3,500 per month. Following massive protests in Lucknow, the government increased the honorarium to ₹10,000. Subsequently, in the recruitment drives of 2018 (68,500 posts) and 2019 (69,000 posts), Shiksha Mitras were given age relaxations and bonus points, enabling over 13,000 of them to become assistant teachers.