SHILLONG, Feb 17: The Samagra Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers in Meghalaya are divided over their decision to petition the Meghalaya High Court against the government over unheeded pleas.
The SSA teachers, under the banner of Meghalaya SSA Schools’ Association (MSSASA), had earlier decided to file a PIL in the High Court in view of the government turning a deaf ear to their appeals, one of which includes regularisation of their services. However, a section of the SSA teachers are averse to the decision, dreading that the move may precipitate ramifications.
While speaking to reporters, B Lyngdoh, who is an SSA teacher, accentuated the need to revisit the decision while fearing that the same may backfire. “We need to understand that we are appointed by the school managing committees,” Lyngdoh said.
“At present, the Association is collecting Rs 2,000 from each teacher for filing the case. My question is who will bear the expenses if we fight the case in the High Court. We cannot take on the state government since our job is not yet permanent,” he added.
The SSA teacher, at the same time, also exhorted the state government to release both arrears and salaries, which are pending.
“We are in great difficulty due to the delay in the release of our salaries. Many of our teachers need to pay the salaries to able to pay the fees of their children,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, the MSSASA is resolute in their decision to move the High Court over the neglected pleas.
“We are going ahead with our decision to file PIL in the High Court,” MSSASA president, Aristole C Rymbai, said.
Rymbai also informed that they will continue to boycott all government-related programmes till the state government releases their pending salaries.
“The amount of Rs 104 is the additional fund which is to be borne by the state government as per capping under the on capping norms of ‘Samagra Shiksha’ apart from the 10 per cent state share with regard to financial support for payment of SSA teachers salary which is lying with the state government for the last three years,” the MSSASA president said.
