Retd teachers to discuss pension, gratuity issues

SHILLONG, Nov 21: The Meghalaya Retired Deficit School Teachers Association (MRDSTA) will be holding its general meeting on November 26 to discuss the pension benefits and the delay in releasing the death cum-retirement gratuity (DCRG) as per the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission.
MRDSTA president ED Nongsiang said the general meeting will be held at Laban Bengali Boys’ Higher Secondary School at 11 am. “We would like to urge the retired teachers to attend this meeting where we are also going to brief (you) on the meeting with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma held recently,” Nongsiang said.
The MRDSTA are demanding the release of the DCRG scheme worth reportedly Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Earlier, Nongsiang said that they are yet to get any assurance in paper despite multiple meetings with the Education department and Chief Secretary since 2021.
Meanwhile, in a memorandum to the chief minister, Nongsiang said other states in India are providing pensionary benefits to the teachers but “the state of Meghalaya has deprived the teachers of this benefit”. “It is apt to mention here that even elected representatives, be it an MP or MLA who spend just 5 years in their service to the society and the public, are endowed with pensionary benefits,” the MRDSTA president said in the letter.
According to him, the government, even after making provision for payment of pension to aged citizens, refuses to acknowledge their contribution and service.