By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 29: Adviser to the Education department, HM Shangpliang has said the government is looking to provide the salaries of the SSA teachers as per the capping norms.
Talking to reporters on the sideline of the programme here on Tuesday, Shangpliang said the file pertaining to the capping norms which was supposed to be provided to the SSA teachers has already moved from the department.
He further said that once the government approves it then it would be able to release the capping salary estimated at Rs 52 crore to the SSA teachers.
Shangpliang also revealed that the state government had released the first installment of the pending arrears in the month of June, as had been assured by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on the floor of the House during the Assembly session earlier this year.
An amount of Rs 12.44 crore was released as first instalment for payment of the pending salary to SSA teachers for the financial year 2016-2017.
The arrears pending for the SSA teachers would also be released at the earliest possible date while the second installment has been released this month.
“Normally, we would have released the second installment in December but since funds are available, it has been released this month and the process of disbursing it among the SSA teachers has started,” he added.
Stating that the initiatives taken by the government is for the benefit of the SSA teachers, Shangpliang said, “We appeal the SSA teachers that while we take care of their problems, we would also like them to ensure that the standard of education in all SSA schools is improved in the days to come.”
Meanwhile, Meghalaya SSA Schools’ Association (MSSASA) president Aristotle Rymbai said they have submitted a memorandum to the government for regularisation of their services and also for enhancement of their salaries.
Earlier in the day, the MSSASA organised a programme to felicitate the chief minister and others. The programme was organised as a mark of honour in recognition of the state government’s efforts and dedication to address the grievances faced by over 12,000 SSA teachers in the state.