SHILLONG:
The Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) is set to launch a mass rally on April 22 in protest against the government’s apathy towards their demand for enhancement of their salaries by Rs 18,000 and a five per cent annual increment.
“We the ad hoc teachers have decided to have a mass rally on April 22 and we will gather at Malki ground at 11 am,” spokesperson of FASTOM, Mayborn Lyngdoh told the press.
Earlier on March 23, following an indefinite sit-in by the members of FASTOM outside the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE) office, the government had assured the federation that their salaries would be increased but without up-gradation of services.
The Federation alleged that since then, neither they have been contacted by the government nor have they received enhanced salaries. “Since there has been no response from the government, we are compelled to launch a full-fledged non-cooperation movement,” Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh further informed that the president of FASTOM Kenneth Shadap had informed the members that the government will not go for deficit pattern but will enhance the salary, but no proposal has been submitted in this regard by the state.
“It is not a proposal but only minutes of the meeting. Maybe Shadap was being duped by the government. We do not know,” alleged Lyngdoh.
Lyngdoh alleged that the government is unsure how much money is required to upgrade ad hoc teachers to the status of deficit pattern. Pointing out to the tax collected by the state government in different forms, but the government says it doesn’t have money, he said. “We have also been introduced to the SGST. So, 3 per cent of the total tax is supposed to go to education,” Lyngdoh added.
Education minister Lahkmen Rymbui, on March 23, had said that the government is still working out the financial implications to resolve the issue. “We will tell you as and when we finish the process,” Rymbui had said.
“In the last 6 years, there has been no enhancement and no increment, so the question is where is this 3 per cent of cess tax that is supposed to go to the LP, UP, Secondary and Higher Secondary section of education. Where is that money? Whether it has been collected or not, if it has been collected, then why is our salary the same for the last 6 years,” he questioned.
He also pointed out that last year, Rs 5240.30 crores was returned by the state government to the Centre because the state government was not able to produce the utilisation certificate. “If the state government is stating that it does not have the money then why did you return the Rs 5240.30 crores, it shows that it has excess money,” he stated.
Lyngdoh said that he was informed by some of the government officials that the money is for developmental activities. In reply to this, he has asked for a list of developmental activities and whether education is part of the developmental activity from the government.