Shillong August 24: In a major setback for the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers Association of Meghalaya (JACATAM) the state government on Wednesday expressed it’s unwilling to meet their demand for ‘Provincialisation of Teachers’ services citing financial constraints on the state exchequer.
In a meeting with officials of the Education Department and the state government Chief Secretary K S Kropha and after much deliberation and discussion the teachers association has taken a decision to suspend its two week general strike from 26 August.
The teachers have also informed that they will be calling a meeting of all its members in Garo hills including in Khasi and Jaintia hills to discuss on the outcome of the meeting and to chalk out future plan of action since the state government was unable to meet 100 percent of its demand.
Addressing newsmen after deliberating the outcome from the meeting with government officials here today, E. D Nongsiang Chairman of JACATAM said, “We are not very happy with the outcome of the meeting however there were certain points raised by us in which the government has agreed to take up but the main demand for provincialisation of teachers’ services have not been agreed by the government.”
Stating that the association will continue to demand provincialisation of teachers’ services, he however said, “Despite the fact that the state government has not accepted 100 percent of our demands but certain points raised by us have been accepted and taking into consideration the welfare of the students we have decided to suspend our ongoing general strike form the 26 August.”
The association has decided to kept there agitation in abeyance and requested all the teachers under JACATAM to return to their school duties on 26 August. When asked if the state government is willing to realize their demand in the near future, he said, “The in our discussion with the government officials today it clearly indicates that the government has not made any commitment to provincialisation of teachers’ services.”
He said the state government will need an additional Rs. 400 crores more from the current Rs. 500 crores being paid to teachers aided by the government to provincialisation of teachers’ services in the state. The demand of the association is to provincialisation the services of all those being paid by the state government which include both teaching and non-teaching staffs of all the government aided schools. The association have been demanding provincialisation of service of 14, 476 teachers in about 4770 government aided schools in the state right from primary up to the higher secondary level.
Informing that certain points raised by the association have been agreed by the government excluding provincialisation of service, he said, “The social security of all the teachers under the deficit and deficit pattern and Adhoc schools to be initiated to include new pension schemes substituting the retirement benefits.” The government has also agreed to upgrade Adhoc schools into deficit system on merit system on a phase by phase manner. The Government has said that they will increased their sally by 100 percent in both LP and UP school including hindi teachers.
With regards to the education policy, he said “The government has agreed to invite us to review and discuss before the education policy is being published. The government has taken a stand that they will frame the service rules in all deficit schools and they have asked us 6 months time to complete this matter.”
He said the government has also agreed to enhance the grant of 100 percent to the lower primary and higher primary Adhoc schools and Hindi teachers. He added, “This is under process and we expect it to be completed very soon.” He informed that the government is also open to include representatives from the teacher’s body in Discussion Committee with regards to any on Educational policy or System in the state.
“There are a few schools which are still under the deceit patter and soon these schools will be upgraded to deficit system gradually and the government is also open to granting medical allowances to deficit school teachers to match with other teachers in government schools,” he said.
Pointing out that the officers of the education department have been cooperating with the association since 2013, he said, “We are however saddened that the policy makers our MLAs and Ministers seem to be very much afraid or reluctant to meet us to discuss on our grievances.”
The association will also be meeting the Union Minister in-charge Human Resources Development in the near future to highlight the education scenario in the state and if necessary seek the center intervention.
