SHILLONG, Oct 28: Repeated appeals from SSA teachers seeking release of their pending salaries have caught the attention of the government, but respite apparently is still far away.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, on Thursday, reiterated that the government is yet to receive funds from the Centre to dole out the pending salaries of the SSA teachers in Meghalaya.
“We hope the Centre releases funds in bulk to clear four to five months’ salaries of the SSA teachers. We are helpless unless the Centre releases the funds,” the minister said.
He, however, mentioned that the demand of the SSA teachers for regularisation of their services will not be possible. “We are not in a position to regularise their service since we are totally dependent on the Centre even to pay their salaries,” Rymbui added.
The SSA teachers have been demanding the release of their arrears pertaining to June, July and August, 2021, besides a hike in their pay.
The Meghalaya SSA Schools Association had announced to hold a mass rally on November 9 in protest against the government’s delay in fulfilling their charter of demands.