SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said there is no proposal under consideration to enhance the honorarium of school Aayas/helpers, who continue to receive Rs 5,000 per month under the Samagra Shiksha programme.
Replying to Starred Assembly Question tabled by MLA Devyani Rana, the School Education Department informed that a total of 12,542 Aayas/helpers are currently engaged across the Union Territory on a temporary and need-based basis.
The government clarified that these engagements are not permanent in nature, with appointments beginning at the time of hiring and automatically ending with the academic session. Extensions, it said, are subject to approval from the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
On remuneration, the department stated that Aayas are paid a fixed honorarium of Rs 5,000 per month, subject to availability of funds under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha scheme.
Regarding welfare measures, the government said that certain benefits such as casual leave and maternity benefits are being provided to Aayas under the scheme. However, there was no mention of provisions like provident fund or employee state insurance.
Significantly, the government stated that no proposal for enhancement of honorarium is currently under consideration at the Union Territory level. Any revision, it added, would require approval from the Project Approval Board of Samagra Shiksha under the Government of India and would depend on availability of funds.
District-wise data placed before the House shows the highest number of Aayas engaged in districts such as Kupwara, Baramulla and Budgam, indicating widespread reliance on these workers in government schools across Jammu and Kashmir.
The response indicates that despite their critical role in supporting school operations, Aayas in the Union Territory will continue to work on existing honorarium rates for the foreseeable future.
