Guest teachers get maternity benefits

New Delhi: Guest teachers working in various Delhi government-run schools will now be entitled to maternity benefits with lieutenant governor (LG) Anil Baijal approving a proposal in this regard.

“It has been decided to extend the benefits under the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961 and Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Act, 2017 to all guest teachers working in the directorate of education, Delhi government,” an official order read.

The Delhi School Tribunal had recently pulled up a private school for “illegally and arbitrarily” terminating the services of a contractual teacher on grounds that she asked for maternity leave, and that she be “reinstated”.

The Delhi Guest Teachers’ Association has been demanding the regularisation of more than 17,000 guest teachers, parity in pay as compared to permanent teachers and maternity benefits.

Afer giving a patient hearing to the guest teachers, deputy CM Manish Sisodia at a meeting here assured them their demands shortly.