SHILLONG, Dec 24: The state government will find a solution to the demands of the deficit schoolteachers, assured Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma.
The deficit schoolteachers in Meghalaya have placed a list of demands before the state government, which include pension and retirement benefits for the deficit teachers and death-cum-retirement gratuity (DCRG) at par with the government employees.
Stating that one of his family members is a retired deficit schoolteacher while empathising with the aggrieved teachers, Sangma said, “The problem is being discussed for the last many years and I think we are still examining (it). I will also go in depth into what can be done and the government will certainly find a way”.
He reiterated that the government will look into what can be done, while adding that the Education department has become his prerogative for a very short duration as of now.
“The Education commission is on the process of discussing all these (matters) and we are also waiting for its recommendations and suggestions. Whatever ideal suggestions and recommendations will be given to the government, we will be happy to receive it and explore”.
Recently, the Meghalaya Retired Deficit Teachers Association (MRDTA) had also demanded of the state government to release their monthly pension and enhance the death-cum-retirement gratuity (DCRG).
MRDTA president ED Nongsiang had said that the state government has decided to enhance the DCRG for deficit teachers, who have retired between January 1, 2017, and March 31, 2022, and accordingly, the association had written to the state government to also consider teachers who retired before 2017 and after 2022.