TURA: Contractual teachers from Garo Hills under the banner of the All Garo Hills Government Lower Primary School Contractual Teachers’ Association have urged the government to ensure that they are paid their salary for a full 12 months instead of the current 10, while at the same time also requesting that they are granted maternity leave facilities, just like other government employees of the state.
A delegation from among the teachers recently met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in Shillong and submitted a memorandum where they requested that necessary steps are taken to facilitate salary payment for the holiday months as well.
“We are being paid for only 10 months in a year since 2012. The majority of the teachers appointed under contractual basis have families and it becomes difficult for us to look after the family without two months’ salary,” the teachers stated in the memorandum adding, they were performing the same duties as regular and permanent teachers.
With regard to maternity leave, the teachers said that at present they are not allowed the 180 day leave period which other government teachers otherwise enjoy. Stating that every pregnant woman should get sufficient leave to protect her health and avoid any complications, the teachers requested that maternity leave facility is also made available for them.It is worth mentioning that earlier, the teachers had demanded that their services are regularized. However, after the MTET question papers were leaked recently, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was tasked with investigating the matter. And with the inquiry report still to be declared by SIT, the teachers decided to demand for extension of their salaries for two additional holiday months instead.