SHILLONG: Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) has met the Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong to press for the demand of the organisation to facilitate the benefit of Maternity Leave to teachers.
In a statement issued here, president of the association, Aristotle C Rymbai said the demand is for teachers working under budget head of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the State as per provision of Maternity Benefits Act 1961 – Right to Payment of Maternity Benefits and Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Act, 2017.
Rymbai informed that since the beginning of implementation of SSA Flagship Programme in Meghalaya till date, the contractual teachers working under SSA were not entitled to avail the benefits of Maternity Leave as enjoyed by other categories of teachers.
“The Teachers’ Union last year have submitted several representations to the State Government through the State Project Director SEMAM-SSA office but the erstwhile government failed to address the issue despite the letter sent by State Project Director SEMAM-SSA Ambrose Ch Marak to the State Government on October 9 last year requesting the Government to examine the demand of the Union in respect of granting of Maternity Leave to female SSA Teachers of SSA supported Schools”, Rymbai asserted.
Rymbai also stated, the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment in its clarification issued on April 12, 2017 to all States and UTs Government clearly mentioned in Section 2 of the Maternity Benefits Act, the Act is applicable to all women who are employed in mines, agricultural, shops and any institutions or otherwise could be either in organized sector or unorganized sector either on contractual or as consultant, but unfortunately in Meghalaya till date the benefit of Maternity Leave has not given to teachers working under SSA.
He argued that SSA teachers in Assam were entitled to avail leave as Special Annual Leave, Medical Leave, Study Leave besides Maternity Leave.
Tynsong has assured to look into the matter and have said it is a genuine issue which the Government need to address on it.