By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Unhappiness and depression marred the Teachers day celebration in the State with thousands of teachers under the banner of Joint Action Committee of All Teachers’ Associations of Meghalaya (JACATAM) staging a protest rally at Malki ground demanding regular payment of salaries besides other demands.
Thousands of teachers from adhoc and deficit schools and colleges who participated in the mass rally held at Malki ground here on Thursday unanimously resolved to continue with the agitational programmes until their demands were met.
Announcing their future course of action, JACATAM chairman ED Nongsiang said that the next phase of the agitation will start from September 11-13 if the government failed to respond within September 10.
The association has resolved that teachers will abstain from taking classes during the agitation days, Nongsiang informed adding that the association will again meet on September 13 to discuss on the next step.
A quick opinion sharing by the teachers revealed a sad state of affairs of the teaching community in the State with every one hoping for a better treatment.
When asked about them having to resort to agitation on a day like Teachers’ Day, a volley of opinions shot out from the gathering all with a tone of discontentment on the treatment meted out to them by the state government.
“We play a major role in nation building and shaping the society, however, we are the neglected and humiliated lot,” said G Mohiuddin who is a teacher of Wahiajer Presbyterian School, Jaintia Hills.
Meanwhile, president of the JACATAM-Mawlai Zone, G Kharmujai said that the teaching community was the neglected section of the society as the teachers were humiliated and ignored by the Education Minister, the State Cabinet and the people’s representatives.
However, adding that despite of all the neglect, the teachers will continue to march forward until their demands were met.
“The frequent excuse given by the government on the non-availability of funds is a sham as the major chunk of the funding is handled by the Centre,” he said citing that about 90 percent is the central share and only 10 percent is the state share.
Kharmujai stated that recently, the government borrowed a loan of 600 crore from Asian Development Bank of which they thought half would be used in raising the standard of education in the State.
“However, not a single penny was spent on it,” Kharmujai said adding that the recent funds allotted to the State Government amounting to almost Rs 3000 crore for 7 new projects is also dedicated to other sectors and the education sector remained neglected.
Echoing similar views, JACATAM vice chairman Kenneth Shadap informed that in 2002, the government assured that the salary of the lower primary school teachers would be raised to Rs 3000 from Rs 1500. This however, turned out to be a mere promise in black and white which only saw the light of the day in 2007 when the State cabinet approved it.
Slamming the comment made by Deputy Chief Minister incharge of education Prof RC Laloo during the official teachers’ day celebration at U Soso Tham Auditorium earlier on Thursday, an executive member of JACATAM questioned the insensitivity of the Education Minister while demanding Prof Laloo to step down as the Education Minister, if he feigns ignorance on the grievances of the teachers.