SSA teachers under the aegis of the All Garo Hills SSA School Teachers Association (AGHSSASTA) have once again written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to seek the release of their pending four months salaries.
This request was made today through the office of the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills.
“This (the failure to pay salaries since July) has caused us extreme hardships, physically, emotionally, economically and mentally as we have not been able to meet our financial needs for our family and our children,” said the release by the teachers.
The teachers lamented that their salaries have been on hold even during the time of the pandemic, when their struggle for a meaningful life is as bad if not worse than that of other people.
“In other states SSA teachers have been paid regularly but with Meghalaya SSA teachers, we have to build the nation while carrying empty stomachs. This is beyond our ability and capacity,” they added.
The teachers added that if the situation continues and the government fails to clear their dues, most of the SSA schools will have single digit enrollments which could lead to their closure.
In their memo to the CM the teachers said that they had hoped for a better tomorrow when the CM had earlier stated that education is a top priority but the ground reality has not changed for the better.
If all four months’ salaries are not released by November 5, AGHSSASTA will launch agitations from November 11.
