SHILLONG, May 4: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the state government would not want to enhance the salaries of the ad hoc teachers to an extent where it will not be able to pay the salaries every month.
“We will commit to enhancing the salaries within our capacity. We want to ensure that the question of not releasing the salaries for three to four months will not arise anymore,” Rymbui told reporters here on Wednesday.
Asked about a week’s deadline set by the Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) to give in writing that the government is examining their demand, Rymbui said there is a need to trust each other since the government is still examining the matter.
“Mistrust will take us nowhere. Trust is very important. No issues can be solved overnight,” he said, asserting that the government will enhance the salaries of the ad hoc teachers to a manageable extent.
On the financial implications of the move to enhance salaries, Rymbui said he will not be able to give details since they are examining the matter.
“Everything will be in the public domain once we take a decision. It is not easy for the government to take a decision since it has wide-ranging ramifications,” he said.
The FASTOM had last week decided to ease its non-cooperation movement for a week from May 2 hoping that the state government will give it in writing that it is actively examining its demands.
The federation has threatened to launch a more aggressive movement from May 10 if the government remains silent.
“We want the state government to confirm the enhancement of the salaries of the ad hoc teachers by ₹18,000 besides a 5% annual increment,” FASTOM general secretary, Andrew Lyngkhoi had said.
