Government is planning to launch a special scheme to provide a number of facilities, including insurance cover and housing, to nearly 55 lakh teachers in the country.

The broad aspects of the scheme was discussed at a high-level meeting chaired by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal here today.

Sibal is expected to announce the National Foundation for Teachers' Welfare scheme next month, a HRD Ministry official said.

Under this scheme, teachers of nearly 1.3 million elementary schools, 20,000 colleges and 500 universities will be entitled for these benefits.

The scheme will come for discussion at the meeting of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the highest advisory body having state education ministers as its members, on June 18 and 19.

The government has Central Government Health Scheme which covers most of the central government employees. However, the proposed scheme will provide insurance cover to all teachers, including those appointed by the state government.

The scheme also envisages provision of housing facility to each teacher in the country. The teachers in reputed and established schools, universities and colleges are currently getting such benefits. However, teachers in rural areas are not able to avail such benefits.

Officials from insurance sector and Finance Ministry attended the meeting. Sibal asked officials to prepare a broad concept note.
The move assumes significance as the shareholders of both banks are set to meet on June 21 in an Extra Ordinary General meeting to approve the merger proposal.