State Government Announces Death Gratuity for Families of Teachers in Aided Non-Government Colleges

In a significant and compassionate policy move, the State Government on Monday declared that it will now extend the benefit of death gratuity to the families of teachers serving in aided non-government colleges.

This decision, which aligns with the government’s commitment to the welfare of educators and their families, aims to offer much-needed financial support to the dependents of teachers who pass away while still in active service.

According to the official announcement, this new directive ensures that in the unfortunate event of a teacher’s death during their tenure, their family members will be entitled to receive death gratuity as per existing government norms and regulations.

The provision is intended to provide immediate monetary assistance to the bereaved families, helping them navigate the sudden financial burden that often follows the loss of a primary earner.

The government has issued a formal order referring back to two earlier government orders issued in the years 1983 and 2004.

These earlier directives serve as the foundational framework for the implementation of the current policy, which has now been updated and made applicable to the present-day context of aided non-government colleges.

State Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay elaborated on the eligibility criteria under this new rule. He explained that the benefit will be extended to two main categories of teachers:

1. Teachers who had not chosen the retirement option and passed away before reaching the age of 58 years — In such cases, the families of the deceased teachers will be entitled to receive the death gratuity in line with government norms.
2. Teachers who had opted to retire at the age of 60 but died before the designated period for changing or confirming their retirement option — The families of such teachers will also be eligible for the death gratuity.

Additionally, the policy also covers cases arising after February 3, 2004. For this period, the government has specified further categories:

• Teachers who did not opt for retirement and passed away before attaining the age of 60.
• Teachers who opted for retirement at the age of 62 but died before the time allowed for modifying their retirement option.

In all these scenarios, the government has now ensured that the affected families will receive the financial benefits entitled under the death gratuity provision.

To ensure that the new order is implemented effectively and without delays, the Director of Higher Education has been tasked with the responsibility of supervising and coordinating the necessary administrative steps.

Officials noted that appropriate directives have been sent to relevant authorities to facilitate the smooth and timely execution of this policy across all aided non-government colleges.

This policy shift is being widely welcomed by the academic community, as it not only recognizes the invaluable contributions of educators but also provides essential support to their families during times of crisis.

It is seen as a long-overdue reform that brings teachers in aided institutions closer in parity to their counterparts in fully government-run educational institutions, at least in terms of posthumous benefits.

The government’s initiative underscores a broader commitment to social justice and the upliftment of educational professionals and is expected to have a positive impact on the morale of teachers across the state.