Shillong, November 27: The Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) Central Body today threatened to resort to mass movement if the State Government fails to release their pending arrear and salary within December 8.
On a press statement issued today, Aristotle C. Rymbai President MSSASA Central Body said today the Association submitted a representation to the State Project Director SEMAM-SSA Ambrose Ch. Marak and requested the State Government once again through SPD to release all the pending dues of the 12481 trained and untrained SSA teachers which includes eight months arrear salary of last financial year 2016-17 for the period from 1st July 2016 to 28th February 2017 and four months salary of current academic year from August to November.
Mr Rymbai also mentioned SSA teachers at present have no money to clear their kids school fees, electricity bills, house rent, and even to buy medicine apart to fulfill their daily needs, the Association have submitted representation to the State Government multiple times on this regards but no responsed from the Government side, which reflects that the State Government is irresponsible on the issue and the problems faced by the SSA teachers in the State.
Though MHRD Government of India had directed the State Government to manage funds from State Budget for implementation of SSA activities but the State Government turned a deaf ear to MHRD instead of implementing the instructions of MHRD.
Further, the Officers of Education department of the State Government had send multiple letters to the State Government requested the Government to release adequate funds to State Implementing Society SEMAM-SSA from State Budget so that SEMAM-SSA will be in position to release the pending dues of the 12481 SSA teachers but the State Government did not respond to their letters.
This clearly indicate that the State Government don’t want to shoulder its responsibility mentioned at Section 7(5) of the RTE Act 2009, if in each and every quarter we have to come out on road to protest and demands for our salary then we may say teachers or teaching profession have no value, Rymbai added.
On reply to news items released by SPD on November 24, Rymbai said today the Association have given an ultimatum to the State Government through SPD to release all the pending arrears and salaries within December 8 failing to do so the Association and the 12481 SSA teachers shall resort to mass movement.
Earlier, the Association have also submitted a representation to the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and requested him to release funds from State Budget for payment of SSA teachers pending dues.
