West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday formally announced that a new scheme has been launched by the labour department to provide monthly financial assistance to Group C and D non-teaching staff who lost their jobs due to the cancellation of the 2016 panel of West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC).
She had earlier declared that the state would provide financial assistance to the non-teaching staff. On Wednesday, the decision was approved during a cabinet meeting at Nabanna, the state secretariat. Group C workers will receive Rs 25,000 per month, while Group D workers will get Rs 20,000 per month.
This support will continue for the duration of the ongoing court case to help the dismissed staff manage their households. The chief minister stated that the scheme, called the West Bengal Livelihood and Social Security Interim Scheme, would be effective from April 1.
“They have families to support too. Until a resolution is reached, our government will provide them with financial assistance,” CM Banerjee said. “Due to the court’s order, their salaries were stopped, leaving their households in distress.”
She also made it clear that the state government has taken all necessary legal precautions to prevent any public interest litigation (PIL) against the scheme. Criticising frequent legal interventions, she said, “Some people are quick to file PILs. They offer no real solutions and only know how to create problem.”
After cancelling the entire 2016 panel as the segregation of tainted and untainted candidates was not made possible, the Supreme Court allowed the teaching staff to continue their jobs till December 31. The date was the deadline given to state government to complete a fresh recruitment process for the now-vacant positions.
However, no such relief was extended to the non-teaching staff. Following a series of protests by them, the chief minister assured that the state government would provide financial assistance to support them. Meanwhile, the state has filed a review petition challenging the cancellation of the 2016 SSC panel, which is still pending a hearing.
