SHILLONG: Lahkmen Rymbui asserted that the dues of SSA teachers in the state would be paid once the Centre releases the salary.
Referring to the agitation of the All Meghalaya SSA School Teachers’ Association (AMSSATA) against the state government, Rymbui said, “I know some teachers are on dharna somewhere at the Additional Secretariat. They know the problem. It is not that the government is trying to hide anything. It is because the central government has not released the money.”
“Whatever is due to the teachers will be paid to them. So I request them to kindly cooperate with us. The government has an open door policy for discussion on any matter. We cannot hide anything. You have to know that we have limitations. We have diagnosed the problem; we will find the solution,” he added.
He pointed to the financial difficulties that the government faces in the implementation of SSA.
The All Meghalaya SSA School Teachers’ Association refrained from participating in the Teachers’ Day celebration and held a sit-in demonstration at the Additional Secretariat parking lot.
The organisation demanded the release of five months’ salary at the existing rate of pay that is Rs 19,044 for lower primary and Rs 20,493 for upper primary and release of eight months’ arrears of 2016-17.
AMSSATA president, Lasforious Marngar, said the RTI filed by them revealed that the Centre has not released teachers’ salary.
“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.
Marngar, however, added that the association is ready to cooperate with the Meghalaya SSA School Teacher’s Association.
