PORVORIM: Allaying concerns of government-aided teachers regarding a circular instructing them to open accounts in a private bank, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarified on Tuesday that teachers are not required to open accounts in the private bank, but the management of educational institutions.
In response to a zero-hour mention by Velim MLA Cruz Silva in the Legislative Assembly, Sawant explained that under the Mukhyamantri Guru Dakshina Yojana, only the management of educational institutions has been asked to open accounts in Axis Bank to maintain uniformity.
Sawant stated that the Directorate of Education had received numerous complaints from teachers in aided schools regarding certain managements deducting 20 percent of their salaries.
“There is no need for teachers to open accounts in Axis Bank. The only reason for opting for Axis Bank is that they have provided software free of cost to the government,” he said, adding that the government is willing to choose another private bank if they offer the software free of cost.
When questioned about why the government chose a private bank instead of nationalized banks, the Chief Minister claimed that Axis Bank is a Scheduled Bank.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao asked, “Why only Axis Bank? Is this instruction coming from Mumbai?”
Silva expressed the fear and anxiety among teachers and the management of aided schools regarding the government’s sudden decision to enforce the Mukhyamantri Guru Dakshina Yojana, compelling them to transfer their salary accounts to Axis Bank against their wishes and disrupting the established relationship with banks in their respective areas.
Silva highlighted that Axis Bank has minimal branches across the state, causing hardships for teachers and resulting in the loss of valuable teaching hours. He urged the government not to implement the scheme, which he believed had no tangible benefits except to increase the business of private Axis Bank.