Fourth teachers in Garo Hills has accused the government of showing step-motherly attitude towards teachers for its decision to reimburse income tax paid by the All India Service (AIS) officers serving in the state.
The Meghalaya 4th Teachers Association (M4thTA), Garo Hills unit in a press release here today said that while the government could not enhance salaries of teachers, it chose to waive off taxes of those who are already well paid.
Vice President of the association, Tangseng M Marak when the government claims to be under “financial crisis” the “rich are getting richer and the poor, poorer.”
Informing that there are 1521 fourth teachers across the State, he said that the association had several times met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, with a request to enhance their salary but to no avail.
“To date, a fourth teacher is receiving a salary of Rs.12, 000 per month while prices of all goods and services had risen. How would we support our family with this salary? All teacher shares the same workload and qualification as other teachers who are getting a better salary, yet the government is not paying attention to the plight of the teachers and instead gave priority to give incentives to the officers who are already enjoying the highest salaries in the country,” he said.
Demanding equal pay for equal work, Marak “Since 1st January 2017 we have been receiving a salary of Rs. 12,000 per month, while the Upper Primary SSA Teachers are receiving a salary of Rs. 20,493 and the Adhoc Upper Primary School Teachers under the State Government, are receiving a salary of Rs. 16,000 per month while the headmaster receives Rs. 18,000 a month.”
