MCTA, MNTEA demand payment of dues, revised salaries
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The one-day cease work agitation called by the adhoc college teachers of the State under the banner of Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) on Thursday affected the normal functioning of around twenty-two adhoc colleges of the State.
Around five hundred adhoc college teachers on Thursday wore black flags and ceased their work for the entire day in protest against the State Government’s failure to meet their demands for implementation of the revised pay and payment of their arrears.
MCTA general secretary Eureka Lyngdoh informed that since there was no response from the State Government over Thursday’s agitation, the Association has decided to meet the Director of Higher and Technical Education on Monday to discuss the issue.
The MCTA has also decided to observe cease work and black flag days on August 24 and August 25 besides taking out a rally on September 5 (Teacher’s Day) to protest the Government’s inaction over their long-pending demands.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Non-Teaching Employees’ Association (MNTEA) has also decided to continue their pen down strike till August 20 followed by a procession on August 24 from Student’s field, Jaiaw to the Secretariat in support of their demands for payment of arrears.
Earlier in the day, the Director of Higher and Technical Education invited the MNTEA for talks but the meeting failed to arrive at any solution.
Around 15 colleges of the State continue to remain affected due to the pen down strike called by the MNTEA.
Meanwhile, taking strong cognizance of the agitation called by MCTA and the MNTEA, the Meghalaya College Principals’ Council (MCPC) has expressed concern over the stir, stating that the agitations by both the associations will certainly disrupt the academic activities causing hardship to the students.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, MCPC president Dr Fr I Warpakma stated that the cease work programme during the peak of the academic session will hit the students hard and they will be the ones who will suffer the most.