By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 14: Opposition leader Mukul M Sangma on Monday slammed the state government for its alleged indifferent attitude towards the agitating SSA teachers.
The SSA teachers are holding an indefinite sit-in demonstration since October 1, demanding a 100% hike in pay and the shifting of the services of 13,000 SSA teachers from the State Implementation Society to the Education department to secure their services.
Sangma said the SSA teachers have been for a long time trying to draw the attention of the government but there has been no visible endeavour from its side to address their issues.
“That the government has not responded to them proves beyond doubt the insensitivity of the people in power. This is condemnable,” Sangma told The Shillong Times.
Recalling his tenure when the salary of SSA teachers was increased in every two to four years, he said it was enhanced from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 in 2008 and Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 in 2010.
Again, he said, the salary was increased to Rs 9,000-Rs 10,000 in 2013 and Rs 19,000-Rs 20,000 in 2016-17.
Stating that the salary has not been revised since 2016-17, he questioned the government about the availability of resources with it.
“These are crucial sectors and everyone knows the status of the education scenario. There are many educationally backward districts,” he said.
He further questioned the government on the model schools sanctioned years ago in different districts to minimise the literacy gap.
He said it is the government’s responsibility to talk to the teachers and understand their demands considering that the costs of education, healthcare and essential commodities are increasing.
