By Francis Khongwar
Shillong (Meghalaya ), March 02 : The Meghalaya SSA teachers under the banner of Meghalaya SSA School Association today withdrew their agitation following an assurance from the NPP led MDA government to clear two months pending salary .
This was communicated by the President of MSSASA, Aristotle Rymbai at the teachers’ rally at Malki Grounds , here .
Speaking to the teachers after meeting the Education minister at the main secretariat, Rymbai said the Minister has informed the members that the state Government will clear their pay for two months from the state fund and the remaining amount would be paid after the state Government receives the second installment from Centre .
He also said the the state government wants to come up with a long-term solution to address the perennial problem of delay in releasing the pending salaries of SSA teachers.
Earlier in the day, a large number of teachers hailing from the different Districts of the state converged at Polo Grounds here and then marched to the Main Secretariat carrying banners which said, “We protest the adamant attitude of the MDA government to pay the salary of the MSSA teachers”. When the agitating teachers reached Raj Bhavan, they were prevented by police to proceed further. During the tussle with police, the teachers shouted, “Why are you calling us when it is too late”. Later, the agitators gathered at Malki Grounds here while their leaders held a discussion with the Meghalaya Education Minister.
Speaking to media, Rymbui said that a permanent solution requires to be found out to solve the problems of the teachers. Rymbui added that this can be achieved only when stakeholders including the Government, teachers and the managing committees works together. The Minister also said the number of MSSA teachers have increased enormously as the previous govts did not follow the SSA norms while giving appointments to these teachers.
He also added that the state government is planning to take action against some mal functioning SSA schools, but is unable to do so as the managing committees of the schools are unwilling to report it to the government.
