Bengal to implement revised UGC pay scale for teachers in

The West Bengal government will implement the revised UGC pay scale for teachers in institutes of higher learning from January 1, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday.

The implementation of the revised UGC pay scale, as recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission, will incur a total expenditure of Rs 1,000 crore on the state exchequer, the chief minister said.

Banerjee said this while addressing a meeting of over 15,000 teachers of colleges and universities from the state.

The revised pay scale will be implemented in government colleges, state-aided colleges and universities.

Meanwhile, the teachers will also get three per cent increment on their respective salaries for four years - from 2016-19, she said.

"We need to mobilise the amount. But we don't take back our promises," the chief minister said amid an applause from the crowd.

Urging the teachers to accept it whole heartedly, Banerjee said, "Very few states have implemented the revised UGC pay scale. But we have done it."
She said, the state had to repay a debt of Rs 50,000 to the Centre, but was not found wanting when it came to paying back the 'architects of our nation - our teachers, despite our limited resources."
Mentioning that West Bengal is a talent pool as it has given so many Nobel laureates to the country, the chief minister said, "The talent of Bengal is the envy of the entire world."