‘Govt alive to MCNTEA demands’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In view of the proposed 5-day cease work called by the Meghalaya College Non-Teaching Employees’ Association (MCNTEA) from Monday, Education Minister Prof RC Laloo on Sunday said the State Government was very much alive to the demands of both the college teachers as well as the non-teaching staff.
“Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has been generous enough to enhance the budgetary allocation to the Education department following my appeal. With this enhancement of the budget, I now have the requisite funds for payment of the arrears,” Prof Laloo said while speaking to The Shillong Times on Sunday.
He, however, was quick to mention that he needed the approval of the Assembly for payment of the arrears. “Only after the Assembly session, I would be in a position to initiate the process for payment of the arrears,” the Education Minister stated.
It may be mentioned that the Assembly session is scheduled to start on September 9.
Prof Laloo also added that he would try to get the sanction for payment of 20 per cent arrears of the college teachers while the remaining 80 per cent of the arrears would be borne by the Centre.
“The Centre had earlier proposed for increasing the age of retirement of college teachers to 65 years. We are still considering this proposal. Once we implement the new retirement age then the Union Government would release the arrear payment of the college teachers,” he stated.
The Education Minister, however, refrained from commenting on the proposed MCNTEA agitation from Monday, saying, “I would try my best to see that their demands are fulfilled at the earliest.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the 5-day cease work announced by the MCNTEA would affect the normal functioning of the PGT College, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong College, Shillong Commerce and St. Edmund’s College.
The employees have also threatened to take out a procession from Fire Brigade to the Secretariat on Teacher’s Day at 10.30 am.
