SHILLONG, July 1: Hynniewtrep Youth Council president Robert June Kharjahrin on Friday said the state government has been embarrassing the teaching community for the last five years.
“What is wrong with the government? Have the teachers not contributed to the development of the society,” Kharjahrin questioned while expressing solidarity with the ad hoc teachers who have been protesting since June 28.
“Teachers have held so many agitations in the last five years. It is an embarrassment that they have been forced to sleep on the streets. The government should listen to them,” he said.
“Our demand is very clear that the government should listen to the teachers and enhance their salaries at the earliest,” Kharjahrin said.
The Jaintia Students’ Union asked the government to convene a special cabinet meeting to address the grievances of the agitating teachers.
“The state government should call a special cabinet meeting to discuss the demand of the FASTOM and sort out the issue,” JSU general secretary Treibor Raul Suchen said on Friday.
The JSU leader met the agitating teachers on Friday and extended support to their fight for their rights.
Reminding that FASTOM had met Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong but only verbal assurances were given, Suchen said, “The CM has to call for a cabinet meeting as no minister can give a decision on his own.”
“Earlier they had been assured that their demand would be discussed in three cabinet meetings but actually nothing was discussed,” he said.