Shillong, Oct 14: Agitating deficit school teachers on Wednesday accused the government of misleading the public on their demands and decided to intensify their three-day mass casual leave stir which began on Tuesday.
Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) President Boswell Pala said the government first sent a letter to teachers on October 8 and then to the media on Tuesday claiming doors for dialogue are open, but with no actual communication.
Pala said the government is pushing a narrative to harm deficit teachers. “This letter is just one more attempt by the Government to push the narrative to harm the deficit teachers. It just wants to give the impression that it is doing something good,” he alleged.
He said the government is projecting release of 43 per cent DA arrears for January-February, 2024 on September 28 as an achievement, when it was pending for three years and amounts to only Rs 1500-3000 for many.
“By saying DA arrear has been released, they are fooling the public. Our more serious demands are pending,” he said.
Pala pointed out that 51 per cent and 53 per cent DA due since last year have not been released. He also demanded scrapping of the 2026 Scheme under 1969 Act and implementation of CPF as per 2023 Scheme, alleging teachers were not informed of the March 16 Board of Trustees meeting to discuss CPF funds.
The protest is jointly led by KJDSTA and the Garo Hills Deficit School Teachers’ and Employees Association, who said they were forced to go on mass casual leave after appealing for over a year.
