SHILLONG, SEPT 5: Even as thousands of teachers boycotted the official teachers’ day celebration and instead announced statewide strike beginning from September 11against the state government’s refusal to meet their demands, Meghalaya deputy chief minister RC Laloo, who also holds education portfolio, tried to mollify the teachers by saying that his door is always open for them for holding of dialogue.
Instead of attending the official function organized by the state government on Teachers’ Day, around ten thousands ad hoc and deficit teachers from schools and colleges under the banner of the Joint Action Committee of All Teachers’ Associations of Meghalaya (JACATAM) gathered at the Malki ground to attend the public rally organized to protest against the state government indifferent attitude towards their demands.
A resolution was also passed by the JACATAM during the public rally announcing the three days strike beginning from September 11. The official teachers’ day celebration saw thin attendance of teachers on Thursday.
JACATAM chairman ED Nongsiang said during the rally, “We have decided to continue with our second phase of agitations in view of the irresponsible attitude of the government towards the teaching community in the state by turning a deaf ear.” He said the teachers will observe a three days ‘strike’ across the state which will commence from September 11 to September 13.”
Nongsiang also warned that even after the strike, if the state government continues to remain adamant towards the teachers demand, the JACATAM will think of the next course of action.
Nongsiang said if the government wanted the teachers to discontinue their strike it should invite them for talks. He said,“Government, don’t just respect the teachers only in words, show it instead through deeds,” he asked.
Over 4047 ad-hoc and deficit pattern of schools were virtually closed for the past three days as the teachers took to the streets demanding fulfillment of their demands. Among their demands, the teachers want provincialization of their services, implementation of the education policy, uniform salary for same jobs besides others.
Meanwhile Laloo said during the official function on Teachers Day that his doors are always open to the teachers for dialogue, but felt ‘action’ is much better than just giving ‘assurances’.
Saying that the demands put forth by the teachers does not have a straight forward decision as he informed that the demands have to be put before the state cabinet for decision. Reacting to the accusation that he refused to meet the teachers to discuss their demands, he said, “I don’t believe in assurances, but I believe in action and I can’t simply assured them without really delivering the required results.”
Laloo assured that the government is committed to address the shortcomings of the teachers and will find out amicable solutions to resolve the problems and grievances of the teachers in the state.
With regards to the proposed provincialization of secondary & higher secondary schools in the state, Laloo said the matter is under close consideration by government and he had already given clear instructions to officials to prepare the list of eligible schools and submit the same with detail financial implications and whole process is expected to be in place within this financial year.
Laloo also informed that salaries of teachers under the SSA had been raised to Rs 9200 for LP teachers and Rs 9900 for UP teachers with effect from this year in order to improve their economic condition beside enhanceing the grant in aid to both ad hoc lower primary and upper primary schools.
Laloo said the arrears and salaries for ad hoc secondary deficit and higher secondary ad hoc have been released till August 2013.
Altogether, thirty teachers from the eleven districts of the state were awarded with the state and district award 2013 in recognition of their tireless efforts towards promoting education.
The awards were handed over to the teachers by Laloo. –By Our Reporter
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