SHILLONG, JULY 18: Teachers under the banner of the Meghalaya SSA Schools’ Association (MSSASA) on Monday refused to call off their indefinite sit-in-protest after they were not satisfied with the government’s assurance over their five months’ pending salary and other demands.
Soon after the indefinite protest began at the parking lot near the additional secretariat, the leaders of the MSSASA were invited for discussion by the additional chief secretary in-charge education DP Wahlang.
However, the outcome of the meeting was unsatisfactory, according to the MSSASA leaders. Hence, the protest will continue indefinitely, they said.
The MSSASA has put forth four demands – to release five months’ salary – February and March of 2021-2022 and April, May and June for 2022-23 – salary enhancement for all 12,451 SSA teachers, providing more budget provision in the state budget and to merge all existing SSA teachers from the State Implementation Society to the education department.
“We are not at all satisfied with the assurance given by the government officials. Therefore, we have decided to continue with our protest,” president of the association Aristotle C Rymbai said while addressing the agitating teachers after the meeting.
He said the education department has informed that the reason for the delay to release the pending salary was due to non-release of Rs 44 crore by the finance department.
“The additional chief secretary also informed that the reason for delay was also due to non-release of funds by the Centre to all the states for the current financial year,” Rymbai said.
According to him, most of the states have not received funds from the Centre for the smooth implementation of the SSA programmes.
By Our Reporter
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