By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday came down heavily on the State Government for failing to fulfil the demands of agitating college teachers of the State thereby putting the future of students at stake.
Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition Conrad Sangma fired a broadside at the State Government for its failure to respond to the demands of college teachers and asked Education Minister Prof RC Laloo to resolve the standoff with college teachers at the earliest in the greater interests of students.
Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) has taken to agitation course demanding the revised pay as recommended by the Fourth Meghalaya Pay Commission for teachers of ad-hoc colleges, release of 20 per cent arrears for teachers of deficit colleges who are paid as per the UGC pay scale, pension scheme and all other allowances due to them.
Though the MCTA temporarily suspended the agitation after the State Government recently sent an official intimation assuring the college teacher to respond to their demands, it has threatened to resume agitation if the government fails to take with concrete steps to meet college teachers’ demands within the stipulated time frame.
“Meghalaya Government should take steps to ensure release of 80 per cent funds from the UGC at the earliest,” the State NCP leader said, adding the government should keep in mind the fate of those students appearing for their examination in 2012.
The college teachers are awaiting the 80 per cent fund from the UGC which has put the condition that all the UGC norms should be implemented in the State at the earliest.
A series of such agitations called by the MCTA on earlier occasions had adversely affected college students at a time when their examinations were knocking at the door.
The NCP suggested the State Government to invite college teachers for talks and solve the problem without further delay.
