Patna: The Bihar Education Department has revised the rules governing the payment of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to teachers and non-teaching staff working in government schools. Under the new guidelines, employees will have to submit an affidavit and self-declaration along with the prescribed application to receive housing allowance.
The revised guidelines have been communicated to Block Education Officers (BEOs) across the district through a letter issued by Establishment District Programme Officer Praveen Kumar Prabhat.
Affidavit and Self-Declaration Now Mandatory
Under the revised system, teachers seeking approval for HRA will have to submit the prescribed application form along with an affidavit issued at the Executive Magistrate level and a self-declaration.
The required documents will be submitted through the concerned BEO. The applications will then undergo verification and review at the district level before final approval for HRA payment is granted.
New HRA Rates Based on Location
The revised guidelines specify different HRA rates depending on the location of the school.
Teachers working in schools located within an eight-kilometre radius of Bihar Sharif Municipal Corporation will be eligible for HRA at 10% of their basic pay.
For schools located within the actual notified limits of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats, HRA will be paid at 7.5% of basic pay.
Teachers working in schools located in rural areas will receive HRA at the rate of 5% of basic pay.
Eight-Kilometre Rule Changed for Municipal Areas
The revised order also changes the earlier approach regarding schools located within an eight-kilometre radius of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats.
Schools falling within an eight-kilometre radius but outside the actual notified geographical limits of the concerned urban local body will no longer qualify for the urban HRA rate.
The 7.5% HRA will apply only to schools situated within the officially notified boundaries of the respective Municipal Council or Nagar Panchayat.
Revised Reports Sought From Schools
The Establishment DPO has directed all BEOs and school heads to identify schools that fall within notified municipal limits but are currently not receiving the applicable HRA.
Officials have been instructed to submit revised reports on such schools to the department immediately.
The revised system is aimed at ensuring that HRA payments are made according to the officially notified boundaries and prescribed eligibility conditions.
