Patna: In a decisive move aimed at resolving persistent delays in teacher salaries, Bihar’s Education Department has issued a directive linking the pay of district-level officers to the timely disbursal of teachers’ wages.
A letter sent to all District Education Officers (DEOs) on Wednesday makes it clear: no government officer at the district level will receive their monthly salary unless all teachers—across every category—are first paid in full. The order follows instructions from Additional Chief Secretary S. Siddharth and has been framed as a step towards administrative accountability.
The communication, issued by the Special Secretary cum Director (Administration), noted reports from several districts where teachers had not received their salaries despite budget allocations being made. “It is being reported that even after funds are released, some teachers are not paid on time, leading to distress among their families,” the letter stated. Teachers have reportedly been bypassing local officials and contacting the state headquarters directly out of frustration.
The directive emphasises that the responsibility for ensuring timely salary payments rests squarely on DEOs. It adds that if technical issues prevent payments, it is up to the district officials to coordinate with headquarters and resolve them without delay.
The policy signals a firm stance from the Nitish Kumar-led government amid rising dissatisfaction among teachers over irregular payments. The Education Department reiterated that timely salary disbursal for educators is now a top priority, and any delay will have direct consequences for district officers.
