SHILLONG, May 11: Miffed over the non-fulfillment of their long-pending demands, ad hoc school teachers under the banner of Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) on Wednesday announced an indefinite strike to be held outside the Main Secretariat from Thursday afternoon in what seems to be final attempt by the protesting teachers to compel Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma to meet them.
The teachers made the announcement as soon as their deadline to the Chief Minister to meet them ended at 3 pm on Wednesday.
FASTOM spokesperson Mayborn Lyngdoh announced that the ad hoc teachers would hold an indefinite sit-in from Thursday in front of the Secretariat. Teachers from across the state will participate in the agitation, he said.
Assuring that the protest will be non-violent Lyngdoh said, “Even if the government reacts we will not retaliate.”
He slammed the government for organising lavish festivals with huge expenditures while teachers continue to suffer. He also questioned the government’s expenditure priorities saying that spending on infrastructure and not on appointment of teachers will lead to empty schools buildings with no teachers.
Lyngdoh also took a dig at the CM for his remark that fulfilling the demands of ad hoc teachers would entail huge financial implications. He reminded that teachers were aware of the state’s budgetary commitments and hence had only demanded a salary hike of Rs 18,000 and 5% annual increment.
According to Lyngdoh, the total financial implication in enhancement of salary would come to around Rs 152 crore which is much lower than the earlier projected estimate of Rs 250 crore.
Reacting to the teachers’ call for indefinite agitation from Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said preparation for enhancement of the ad hoc grants is in the final stage.
“We need detailed discussions with the Finance, Planning and other departments on this particular matter. Everyone needs to be taken on board regarding the enhancement of the ad hoc grants,” Tynsong told reporters on Wednesday.
He also said that senior officers of the Education department had a meeting with members of FASTOM to brief them on the status of their demands.
Suspended Congress MLA from Mawlai, Process T Sawkmie urged the CM to call the ad hoc teachers for talks to break the deadlock.
“It will be better if the CM calls them for talks,” Sawkmie said, adding that the CM can explain to them the problems faced by the government.
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) expressed displeasure over the failure of the NPP-led MDA Government to fulfill the demands of the ad hoc teachers.
“The previous governments used to increase the salaries of the ad hoc teachers twice every five years. But the present government has not enhanced their salaries even once in the last four years,” HYC president, Robertjune Kharjahrin said in a statement on Wednesday.
Reiterating their support to the agitating teachers, he asked the state government to call the teachers for talks and fulfil their demands at the earliest.
Just hours after the teachers announced their next phase of agitation, the District Magistrate (in-charge) of East Khasi Hills issued an order under Section 144 CrPC prohibiting any form of protests and gatherings within a 200-metre periphery of the Main Secretariat.
