Shillong, Sep 25: Deficit school teachers and non-teaching staff have served an ultimatum to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, warning of aggressive state-wide agitations if their long-pending demands are not met by October 9.
The ultimatum by the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association and Garo Hills Deficit School Teachers and Employees Association comes after nearly a month of no response from the Chief Minister’s Office to their request for appointment and after a thousand-strong rally in Shillong on Friday.
The associations, which marched from MBOSE office at Lower Lachumiere to Malki Ground with placards demanding implementation of Contributory Provident Fund and National Pension System, have listed six demands.
They have sought immediate release of overdue Dearness Allowance and arrears, pointing out that while 51 per cent DA was due from July 1, 2025 and 53 per cent from January 1, 2026, staff continue to be paid at 49 per cent, with 43 per cent arrears for January and February 2024 also unpaid. They have demanded implementation of the enhanced 10 per cent CPF contribution as per the November 21, 2024 government order effective from January 1, 2025, stating staff are still receiving only 8 per cent.
The third demand relates to expedited recruitment for vacant sanctioned deficit posts lying unfilled after retirements, with approval for pending advertisements, interviews and appointments and stopping conversion of sanctioned posts into temporary posts under the Structured Pay Framework.
They have further demanded exemption from the Meghalaya Non-Government School and College Employees Centralised Provident Fund Scheme, 2026 terming it unsuitable for deficit staff, full restoration of the Board of Trustees with proportionate representation as per the 1969 Act, and a definitive timeline for complete CPF and NPS transition as per the May 29, 2023 notification. The associations also pressed for timely salary payment and implementation of Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme and said any disruption to academic schedules due to protests will rest entirely on the government.
At the rally, teachers from different districts displayed flex banners along Malki Ground fencing targeting Commissioner and Secretary Education Vijay Kumar Mantri and putting up a list of Board of Trustees members alleging they were neither teachers nor representatives of deficit teachers.
Extending support, Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association Executive Member David Marbaniang said Chief Minister Conrad Sangma himself comes from the deficit system and should not dismantle what his father Purno A Sangma had laid the foundation for, calling for unity and noting many politicians have come from deficit schools.
Former MCTA President Dr B H Buam warned the education system could face severe decline if present condition continues, alleged the state is being run by people with little understanding of Meghalaya, said she does not believe the National Education Policy will help students, and accused the government of attempting a divide-and-rule policy.
