Date:14/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/14/stories/2006011409080400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Pay salary to Mahiti Sindhu teachers'

Special Correspondent

Government warns of withholding Rs. 40 crores due to private firms

Programme may be extended to all 3,000 government high schools
Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister to prepare a formula for recruitment of teachers
The teachers are on strike since November 28 demanding continuation of the programme

2,290 primary and high school teachers and 300 college lecturers to be recruited before next academic year

BANGALORE: The State Government on Friday warned private firms that it will not release the Rs. 40 crores due to them if they did not pay salaries to computer teachers of the Mahiti Sindhu programme.

The programme is being implemented in 1,000 government high schools in rural areas with operational help from the NIIT, Aptech, and Educomp Datamatics. The agencies were given the project for execution on a contractual basis by recruiting 2,000 teachers.

Addressing presspersons here, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Ramalinga Reddy said the funds will not be released to private computer firms if they do not pay salaries and deposit the Provident Fund amounts deducted from the salary of teachers.

Mr. Reddy said the programme will be continued and, if possible, extended to all 3,000 government high schools. He assured the teachers on strike that they will not lose their jobs and a committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash will soon come out with a formula on their recruitment. The teachers are on strike since November 28 demanding continuation of the programme, regularisation of their services and sanction of pay scales on a par with high schools teachers.

The Union Human Resource Development Ministry has released Rs. 12 crores to the State to extend the programme in 480 high schools. A proposal has been submitted to the State Finance Department to release Rs. 311 crores to cover all government schools, Mr. Reddy said.