Tripura MLAs raise demand to regularise SSA, contractual teachers

The issue of regularising teachers working under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and other contractual arrangements was raised strongly in the Tripura Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, with members from both the ruling and opposition sides highlighting the long years of service rendered by these teachers without job security.Tipra Motha legislator Paul Dangshu and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury spoke in the House, drawing attention to the conditions of thousands of teachers who continue to work on a contractual basis despite serving for many years. Both leaders said the matter required urgent attention from the state government.Paul Dangshu said that many SSA teachers have been working for more than two decades but are still not regularised. He pointed out that there have already been two High Court rulings in favour of these teachers, yet their status has not changed. According to him, the problem is not limited to SSA teachers alone, but also affects other categories such as vocational teachers who face similar uncertainty in their jobs.He said that most of these teachers are now fully qualified under the Right to Education Act and the National Council for Education Policy norms. Many of them have also completed their Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) from recognised institutions. Despite this, they continue to work without permanent status or proper benefits.

Dangshu also highlighted the wide range of responsibilities handled by these teachers. Apart from teaching, they are involved in various government duties such as working as booth-level officers during elections, managing mid-day meal schemes, and handling day-to-day school operations. He said their contribution to the education system is significant and should be recognised through proper employment status.Raising another important point, Dangshu urged the state government to withdraw its Special Leave Petition (SLP) from the Supreme Court in connection with the matter. He argued that doing so could also reduce the financial burden on the state. According to him, if the SLP is withdrawn, the state would only have to bear a small portion of the salary, while the remaining cost would be covered by the central government.He also spoke about the lack of welfare support for these teachers. He said that more than 200 teachers have died while in service, but their families did not receive pension benefits or support under any “die in harness” scheme. This, he said, shows the urgent need for policy changes.“Kindly withdraw the SLP and regularise them because they deserve structured and respectful pay,” Dangshu said in the Assembly, adding that the demand applies to all contractual teachers across different categories.

Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury also supported the demand and said that the issue reflects promises that were made earlier but not fulfilled. He said that there were assurances given to regularise such teachers, and now it is time to act on those commitments. Chaudhury also referred to examples from other states, stating that some governments have already provided benefits and regularised SSA teachers. He said that similar steps can be taken in Tripura if there is the required political will.