Around 55,000 shikshamitra and instructors in Uttar Pradesh have not received their October honorarium despite the budget being released, with payment difficulties reported in 17 districts because of problems on the SNA Sparsh portal, according to a report by Live Hindustan – Lucknow.
The delay has affected the online transfer of funds into the workers’ bank accounts. The State Project Directorate has expressed concern over the low payment status in the affected districts and directed officials to address the issue.
The districts identified in the report are Amroha, Baghpat, Azamgarh, Bahraich, Etah, Farrukhabad, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Kasganj, Mahoba, Meerut, Moradabad, Pilibhit, Sant Kabir Nagar and Sitapur. The report says payment has been particularly affected in these districts, although the budget for the honorarium has already been released.
Additional State Project Director Rajendra Prasad sent a letter expressing displeasure over the very low level of honorarium disbursement in the 17 districts. The letter followed difficulties in processing payments through the SNA Sparsh portal, which has replaced the portal previously used for transferring honorariums.
The reported technical problems have not been resolved in time, preventing the October payments from reaching the accounts of the affected shikshamitra and instructors. The delay has also exposed how a change in the payment platform can disrupt the delivery of funds even after the required budget allocation has been made.
The Uttar Pradesh Primary Shikshamitra Association’s state general secretary, Sushil Kumar Yadav, said orders had been issued for payment before Diwali. However, workers in the affected districts did not receive the honorarium before the festival, according to the report.
The report does not specify the total amount pending, the number of workers affected in each district, or a revised date for completion of the payments. The State Project Directorate’s letter and the continuing use of the SNA Sparsh portal are the immediate administrative measures identified in the report to address the delay.
