Stagnation Increment: New Circular Regarding Salary Increment for Teachers of West Bengal

Stagnation Increment: According to ROPA 2019 of the West Bengal government, a significant problem in the case of teachers’ salary increases is stagnation. When an employee reaches the last cell of their pay matrix level, their annual salary increment stops. To solve this problem, a new circular has been issued recently which will help to overcome this stagnation.

What is Stagnation?

According to ROPA 2019, there are 33 cells in each pay matrix level. An employee receives one increment each year, moving from one cell to the next in the pay matrix. However, after 33 years of service or for any other reason when they reach the 33rd cell, they no longer have the opportunity for a normal increment. This condition is called stagnation. The term of ROPA 2019 is set to end on December 31, 2025, which could lead to many teachers and government employees facing this issue.

What does the new circular say?

On September 12th, a new circular was issued to address this stagnation problem. This circular is applicable to all primary and secondary schools in all districts. It states that a special ‘Stagnation Increment’ will be arranged for all employees who have reached the last cell of their pay matrix.

Guidelines for DDOs:

• New Menu in IOSMS: A new menu or interface has been added to IOSMS for Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs). Through this, they can update the basic pay of employees whose salary has become stagnant.
• Basic Pay Update: DDOs have been instructed to update the basic pay of all employees who have reached the last cell of the pay matrix with the ‘Stagnation Increment’ as per the rules.
• Date Mention: The effective date of this increment and the date from which it is admissible must be clearly mentioned.

The Importance of this Circular:

This circular is great news for all those teachers and government employees who were being deprived of salary increments at the final stages of their careers. This initiative is expected to boost their morale as well as their financial security. This step by the government reflects its commitment to its employees. It is hoped that the proper implementation of this circular will provide a permanent solution to the problem of stagnation under ROPA 2019.