SHILLONG: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui asserted that the dues of the SSA teachers would be paid once the central government released the teachers’ salary.
While speaking at the Teacher’s day celebration at U Soso Tham auditorium on Wednesday, he was referring to the agitation launched by All Meghalaya SSA School Teachers’ Association (AMSSATA) against the state government.
“I know some teachers are on dharna somewhere in Additional Secretariat. They know the problem, it is not that the state government is trying to hide anything. It is because the central government has not released the money,” Rymbui said.
“Whatever needs to be paid to the teachers, we will pay. So, I request the teachers to kindly cooperate with us. The government is working with open doors. We cannot hide anything. You have to know that we have limitations. We have diagnosed the problem, we will find the solution,” he said.
The All Meghalaya SSA School Teachers’ Association (AMSSATA) refrained from participating in the Teachers’ Day celebration and held a sit-in demonstration at the Additional Secretariat parking lot over unfulfilled demands.
The organisation demanded the release of five months salary at the existing rate of pay, i.e. Rs 19, 044 for Lower primary and Rs 20, 493 for Upper Primary and release of 8 months arrears of 2016-17.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, president of the organization, Lasforious Marngar, said the RTI filed by them revealed that the central government has not released the teachers’ salary to the state government.
“The state government should take up the matter with the central government to expedite the case regarding our pending salary. Besides this, we are facing the problem of irregular payment of salaries,” he said.
Asked, Marngar said they are willing to work together with the Meghalaya SSA School Teacher’s Association (MSSASTA).