Kolkata, :- In a significant development, the West Bengal government has announced a substantial hike in the one-time benefit for contractual higher secondary teachers and para-teachers upon retirement. As per the order issued by the state finance department on Wednesday, the retirement benefits for contractual staff, including higher secondary teachers and para-teachers, will now increase up to five lakh.

According to the notification, the finance department has enhanced the terminal benefit from Rs 2 lakh/3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in respect of contractual higher secondary teachers, para-teachers, SSK and MSK teachers, academic supervisors, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and others upon attaining the age of 60/65 years.

The move is expected to benefit nearly 3.5 lakh contractual staff members associated with the School Education Department. The development comes after the state government had increased the retirement benefit of some sections of contractual employees, including civic volunteers, village police, and others, earlier in March this year.

State Education Minister Bratya Basu took to social media to share the news, stating that the initiative was taken following the directions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The minister also shared an image of the school education department's circular, which indicated that the finance department has issued an order for enhancing the terminal benefit for the contractual staff.

The decision is expected to provide significant relief to the contractual and para-teachers in the state, who have been demanding a hike in their retirement benefits for a long time. The move is also seen as a major morale booster for the teaching community in West Bengal.

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