The Union Cabinet on Thursday increased the retirement age of teachers from 62 to 65 years. The Cabinet also said the teachers can teach up to 70 years, in case the vacancies are not filled up. The increase in age of superannuation was one of the key recommendations made by the Veerappa Moily Oversight Committee, which was set up to prepare the roadmap for 27 per cent OBC quota implementation.
In order to offset the impact of the OBC quotas, the Committee had recommended that 54 per cent seats be increased so that the general category students are not affected by the affirmative action. To increase seats, teachers shortage was cited as one of the major constraints.
Besides, it gave its approval to the release of additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and dearness relief to pensioners, as due from January 1 2007, at the rate of 6 per cent over the existing 29 per cent.
The Cabinet also cleared the amendment in the Inland Vessels Act, incorporating salient recommendations by the Standing committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. The Bill seeks to declare Lakhipur-Bhanga Stretch of River Barak as a National Waterway. The total length of the waterway would be around 121 kms.
The developmental works to be undertaken by the Inland Waterways Authority of India include fairway development by dredging, excavation and widening of canals, construction of terminals with mechanical handling facility and storage areas at Bhanga, Badarpur, Silchar and Lakhipur.
BY TIE, 16-03-2007
