Shillong, March 27: To put more efforts for release of pending Arrears with effect 1st April, 2016 to February, 2017 and 1 month salary for the month of March of the 12481 SSA teachers in the state as per Revised Pay notified by SSA-SEMAM dated 31 Oct, 2016, on Saturday , March 25, three members delegation of Meghalaya SSA School Association ( MSSASA) Central Body led by its President Aristotle C. Rymbai met Mr Ambrose Ch. Marak State Project Director (SPD) of SSA-SEMAM.
In the meeting with the members of the SSA State Project Director informed the delegation, that out of the total budget approved by MHRD , at the PAB 2016-17 for Meghalaya , his office required an amount of Rs 100 crore for paying the pending Arrears and Salary for the month of March of the 12481 SSA Teachers , he also informed on March 31, it will be confirmed how much money will be given to SSA-SEMAM from State Budget. And due to non transferred of the said budget by Ministry of Finance, Department of expenditure, Government of India to MHRD, the transfer of funds of 2nd Installment under SSA to Meghalaya by MHRD is still pending which had affected the 12481 SSA teachers in the State and all the SSA teachers of all the States and Onion Territories in the country.
The association had apprised the SPD to release at least the Arrears for the 1 or 2 quarters to the 12481 SSA teachers as per availability of funds if the total budget of 100 crore not met within March 31, for paying all the pending Arrears and 1 month salary in one time and for the remaining Arrears it is advice to release in one time only when SSA-SEMAM receive the funds. After an hour long discussion, SPD agreed and assured us to discuss the points with the Commissioner and Secretary Education Dept cum State Mission Director SEMAM for further necessary action, Aristotle C. Rymbai said.
“We had also apprised SPD , that as per Section 7 of the RTE Act 2009, it is the concurrent responsibility of both Centre and State Government to provide funds under SSA for the implementation of RTE Act, adding to this , on 17th November 2016 a letter was issued by Ms Surbhi Jain, Director, School Education and Literacy, MHRD Govt of India to all Education Secretary and State Project Director (SPD) of States/UT’s which asked them to manage expenses from State Budget till the time MHRD procure budget from Ministry of Finance. Therefore, if Govt of Meghalaya fails to fulfill our demands within March 31, the Association along with 12481 SSA teachers and their family members shall move on with agitation program next month that is in the month of April as mentioned at the Demand Notice submitted earlier to the State Project Director”, MSSASA President Aristotle C. Rymbai added.
