SSA teachers demand maternity benefits

Shillong: The Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) on February 15 sent a letter to the chief minister seeking his intervention in fulfilling the long-pending demand for maternity leave benefits to teachers working under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
Despite the existence of the Maternity Benefits Act 1961, SSA teachers have been deprived of the benefits till date.
“The Ministry of Labour and Employment in its clarification issued on April 12, 2017, to all states and UTs clearly mentioned in Section 2 of the Maternity Benefits Act that it is applicable to all women who are employed in mines, agriculture, shops and any institution, either in organised or unorganised sector, or contractual or consultant,” said Aristotle C Rymbai, president of the Meghalaya SSA School Association.
A proposal was also sent to the special officer to the Education Department on February 1 seeking policy decision. However, no response to the plea of the teachers has been made yet.