SHILLONG, Nov 14: Retired deficit schoolteachers under the banner of Retired Teachers Deficit School Association (RTDSA) have moved Chief Minister Conrad Sangma for release of death cum-retirement gratuity (DCRG) as per the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission.
“We have been demanding the release of the DCRG scheme from Rs. 3.5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh. We are yet to get any writing assurance despite meetings with the Education department and Chief Secretary since 2021,” RTDSA president ED Nongsiang told reporters after meeting the chief minister here on Monday.
According to Nongsiang, Conrad has agreed to look into the matter through local MLA Pyniaid Sing Syiem.
Meanwhile, in a memorandum to the chief minister, Nongsiang said other states in India are providing pensionary benefits to the teachers.
“However, 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,” he said.
According to Nongsiang, the government, even after making provision for payment of pension to aged citizens, refuses to acknowledge the service of the teachers.
The RTDSA president said that the teachers, in the absence of any provision of law to take care of them, have been subjected to living a life of destitution and penury.
“The drastic discrimination to which the teachers of deficit schools are subjected is not only irrational and arbitrary bur inhumane in every respect,” he said, asking the chief minister to implement the recommendation of the 5th pay commission.
The 5th pay commission recommends that the scheme of pension and retirement benefits for deficit schoolteachers should be in line with other government employees for the benefits of all retired deficit teachers.
