SHILLONG: With the state government showing no inclination to provide benefits of the fifth pay commission to them, the deficit school teachers have resolved to launch a series of agitation from Monday. However, the chief minister has asked the teachers to continue with their work, assuring that the government was seriously considering their demand.
Members of the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association and the Garo Hills Deficit School Teachers’ and Employees’ Association will begin the first phase of agitation on Monday by sporting black arm bands.
KJDSTA president ED Nongsiang informed that the deficit teachers across the state will wear black arm bands on Monday and Tuesday and it will be followed by a public rally on June 6 at Madan Iewrynghep.
“If there is still no response from the government, we will announce the next phase of intensified agitation during the public rally,” Nongsiang said.
Asked whether the financial implication was preventing the government from extending the benefits to them, Nongsiang said they had submitted the details of the financial implications to the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education.
He further added that the Directorate had submitted details of the financial implications to the government and now the ball was in the government’s court.
Nongsiang also blamed the previous Congress-led government for not implementing the new pay scale for the deficit school teachers along with other government employees.
Lamenting that the teachers were being forced to beg for their rights, Nongsiang said, “The teachers did not need to go to the street if the government shows seriousness in addressing our grievances.”
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, meanwhile, said he did not see any reason why teachers should turn towards agitation.
“It is just a technical delay as the department is making sure that the calculations are in place,” Sangma told reporters while reacting to the teachers’ call for agitation from Monday.
The chief minister said a Cabinet meeting on May 8-9 was scheduled to take up the issue but the Education Department was engrossed with other responsibilities.
“The department has not been able to compile the necessary information as it is a massive calculation,” he said, adding that Cabinet will take a call as soon as the details are forwarded by the department.
Asked if he would appeal to the deficit teachers to call off their agitation, Sangma replied in the affirmative and said, “The teachers feel that the government is sitting on the decision but it is only procedural delay simply because the exercise is massive and the department is overburdened.”
“I want to assure the teachers that we are serious about their demand and they should continue with their work,” the chief minister added.
