SHILLONG: The Meghalaya SSA Schools Association has sought the Prime Minister’s intervention in releasing funds for payment of salary to teachers.
In a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office on September 14, the association said while other states and union territories have received ad hoc instalment fund towards payment of salary to SSA teachers, Meghalaya has not got the same.
The association sought the Prime Minister’s intervention in finding a time-bound solution to the problem and “alleviate the suffering faced by the 12,541 SSA teachers in Meghalaya”.
The association’s president, Aristotle Rymbai, also reminded in the letter that on April 5, the director of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, DSEL, had sent a letter to education secretaries of all states and union territories, including Meghalaya, mentioning that the department was considering release of the ad hoc instalment for implementation of fresh programmes.
Recently, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had said the state was unable to pay its SSA teachers because the Centre did not release fund.
The association has also served a deadline till Sept 19 to the state government demanding release of five months’ salary and pending arrears.
Mentioning the “critical” time faced by teachers and their families, the association said the authorities concerned should take
responsibility and arrange for fund from other sources.