By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Education Minister Prof RC Laloo has reiterated that the State Government would pay the pending arrears to both teaching and non-teaching staff of the colleges only after the forthcoming Assembly Session.
“I have got the required fund for payment of the arrears after the Chief Minister agreed to enhance the budget allocation for the Education department.But I cannot pay the arrears unless the supplementary demands for enhancement of the budget is approved by the Assembly,” Prof Laloo said while speaking at an official Teachers’ Day function here on Monday.
He said the department carried several exercises to arrange fund to pay arrears to both teaching and the non-teaching staff of the colleges.
“If they are going ahead with their agitations I cannot say anything. I have clearly told them I would give my best to see that their demands are addressed. But I cannot do anything beyond that,” Prof Laloo said.
The Education Minister appealed the governing bodies of the various colleges to play a pro-active role to see that the students are not affected by the proposed strikes by teaching and the non-teaching staff.
While informing that the department had received Rs 44 crore from the Plan fund, Education Minister said that the department would be utilising this amount for payment of the rest of the arrears to the teachers of both the Higher and Secondary School.