SHILLONG: The State Educational Mission Authority of Meghalaya (SEMAM) will need at least Rs 100 crore to clear the pending salary of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teachers and is waiting for the State Government to release fund.
SSA-SEMAM project director Ambrose Ch Marak told a three-member delegation of Meghalaya SSA School Association that payment of arrears since April 1, 2016, and salary for March for 12,481 teachers is delayed owing to non-sanction of fund.
“On March 31, it will be confirmed how much money will be given to SSA-SEMAM from the State Budget. Due to non-transfer of fund by Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, money for second installment under SSA to Meghalaya by MHRD is still pending which had affected the teachers in the state and all the SSA teachers of all the States and Union Territories in the country” Marak told the teachers.
The association had urged Marak to release at least the arrears for the 1 or 2 quarters to the 12481 SSA teachers as per availability of funds if the total budget of Rs 100 crore (approx) not met within March 31, for paying all the pending arrears and 1 month salary and for the remaining arrears, it was advised to release one time only when SSA-SEMAM receive the funds.
After an hour long discussion, Marak agreed and assured to discuss the points with the Commissioner and Secretary of Education Department cum State Mission Director SEMAM for further necessary action, Aristotle C. Rymbai President of the teachers’ body said.
“We had also apprised Marak that as per Section 7 of the RTE Act 2009, it is the concurrent responsibility of both Centre and State Government to provide funds under SSA for the implementation of RTE Act, adding to this , on November 17 2016 a letter was issued by Surbhi Jain, Director, School Education and Literacy, MHRD Govt of India to all education secretaries and state project directors of States/UT’s asking them to manage expenses from State Budget till the time MHRD gets the budget allotment from Ministry of Finance.
“If Government of Meghalaya fails to fulfill our demands within March 31, the Association along with 12481 SSA teachers and their family members shall move on with agitation programme next month (April) as mentioned at the demand notice submitted earlier to the State Project Director”, Rymbai added.
