The process of giving salaries to schoolteachers must be made online to reach them on time, said J. Krishna Palemar, Minister for Ports and Dakshina Kannada District In-Charge Minister.
He was speaking at the Teachers' Day function organised by the Department of Public Instruction and the zilla panchyat here on Monday.
Mr. Palemar said that although the government kept giving the salary amount periodically, it was possible that the salary did not reach the teachers on the first of every month. “Make it (the process of getting the salary to reach the teachers) online and ensure it reaches on the first of every month,” he said.
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Mr. Palemar told teachers not to hold protests as they would be taken care of and that their complaints would be addressed. In Dakshina Kannada, teachers were held in high esteem especially as the district was known for its high literacy levels. The region had been the place where five banks had originated because of education.
He said that it was not incorrect for students to work in keeping their schools clean.
“But they should not protest against their teachers,” he said.
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Felicitated
Forty-three teachers were felicitated including Yashoda K.N. from Government Higher Primary School, Puttur, Shubhashchandra Rai from Government Higher Primary School, Sullia, Immaculate Nazareth from Pompeii Aided Primary School, Mangalore, Sudhakara Salian B. from Government Higher Primary School, Moodbidri.
Capt. Ganesh Karnik, MLC, said that availability of funds for paying the salary of teachers was not the problem.
The funds had to go through a process involving the panchayat and the treasury besides which the data relating to salary had to be uploaded onto computers.
In West Bengal, teachers get their salary on the first of every month but not in Karnataka. “In this State, teachers do not get the salary till the ninth of the month,” he said.
A cultural programme was held by students of various schools at the same event.
Some teachers held an all-day protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office.
A handout by the PU College Lecturers' Association said that they had demands, including a raise in the salary of principals and lecturers. It said that they wanted Rs. 14,050 as basic pay for PU lecturers and Rs. 18,050 as basic pay for principals of PU colleges.