SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said that the government will clear the pending salaries of SSA teachers from the state’s budget, even as the Centre has not released the funds.
“We will be clearing a few months of salary. Even though we have not yet received the funds from Delhi, we are working out from the state’s budget,” Sangma told the press, on March 25, adding that even Assam and other neighbouring states are facing similar problems in connection with the SSA programme.
Stating that it is a national problem, the chief minister said, “We are trying to work out with the government of India. But there is very little that we can do to clear everything because the maximum amount comes from the Centre.”
Notably, the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) had served an ultimatum to the state government to release two out of five months’ pending salary by March 25, failing which they would be compelled to take stern decision through an emergent meeting of the executive committee.
On the indefinite protest staged by the Federation All Schools Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) demanding the government to enhance the salary of the ad hoc school teachers, Sangma said that the matter is being examined by the government.
“Enhancement aspect is being examined as of now, but we have not taken any decision on that matter as of now,” he said.