SHILLONG:
The government sniffs of a “hidden agenda” behind the ongoing, indefinite sit-in by ad hoc teachers under the banner of Federation of School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) demanding an enhancement of their salaries and an annual increment.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who, on Friday, invited a delegation of the agitating teachers for a meeting and requested them to call off their protest assuring that the government will take a final call on their demands in the next cabinet meeting, said that if they continue with their protest despite the government assurance, it implies that they have some hidden agenda.
“It is up to them but let me tell you, if they continue with the protest now, it means they have some hidden agenda. The chief minister and I have already promised them that we will look into their demands in the upcoming cabinet meeting, so why do you still have to sleep on the road? Let the people of Meghalaya judge,” said the deputy chief minister.
The ad hoc teachers, however, are yet to consider the request and, till the filling of this report, has continued with the indefinite protest.
“I don’t know if their protest is politically motivated, that you ask them. I don’t understand why they should not be happy with the meeting I had with them,” he averred, adding that the government has given the protesters a clear-cut assurance that it will enhance the lump sum grant to such government-aided schools.
Reiterating that he had personally requested the teachers to call off their agitation and “go back to their respective homes”, Tynsong further said that if the government fails to take a call in the next cabinet meeting as assured, they have the liberty to “continue with their agitation”.
Stating that the aided schools are fully owned by the organisations including churches and localities, among others, the deputy chief minister said that appointment of teachers is being done by their respective school managing committees (SMCs).
“I feel that the SMCs have to shoulder the responsibility of the welfare of their teachers as the government only provides a lump sum grant to each aided school in Meghalaya. Once that grant is released, it goes directly to the SMCs and then they will take necessary steps releasing it to the teachers – that is the system being followed. Therefore, I appeal to the SMCs to step in and also share the responsibility for the interest of their teachers or employees,” he asserted.
Earlier after the meeting, FASTOM spokesman Mayborn Lyngdoh told reporters that they are convinced by the assurance given by the deputy chief minister but calling off the protest would depend on the decision taken by the ad hoc teachers.
“He (Tynsong) has assured us that of our demands will be approved in the next cabinet meeting. When we expressed that we will wait until the meeting, he said that is our wish. However, we too assured him that we would ask the teachers whether they want to go back home or wait. It is up to them,” Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh, however, said that the teachers are not aware of the process of appointment in the ad hoc schools.
“When it comes to the appointment, how it is being done is between the government and the managing committees. We do not know the process. So it is up to the government and the managing committee to discuss between themselves. We do not know about the process as we simply passed and got the job through the interview,” the FASTOM spokesperson said.
Defending the SMCs, the FASTOM spokesperson brushed off all allegations that the SMCs are deducting a certain percentage from the salary of the teachers. “It is difficult for us to say who should be taking the responsibility but we just know that our salaries are being paid by the government and we are looking for enhancement from it,” he said.
Lyngdoh, however, refused to give a direct reply if the ongoing sit-in demonstration is backed by the SMCs.