Saddened at the non-response to their demands for the release of their pending salaries of the past five months, SSA teachers under the banner of the All Garo Hills SSA School Teachers’ Association (AGHSSASTA) have decided to go ahead with a two-day hunger strike from Friday, that is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
AGHSSASTA expressed disappointment at the way the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills directed a change in venue for their protest, which they stated was not as per the decision taken by the teachers’ body.
AGHSSASTA had stated their intent of protesting in front of the home of the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, his sister and Tura MP, Agatha Sangma, as well at another location. However, the administration directed the teachers to protest at Tura Law College, something that the teachers are angry about.
“We have submitted frequent memorandums and petitions to the CM and Education Minister over our pending salaries over the past five months. They have failed to respond to our demands of giving us our rightful due,” said Bunbunbirth Marak, the publicity secretary of AGHSSASTA.
The teachers asserted that the decision to hold a mass hunger strike was forced upon them by the failure of the government to listen to their woes and act accordingly.
Meanwhile, the A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) has decided to join the teachers in their hunger strike on both days as a sign of solidarity with them. They have also decided to fast and sing Christmas carols in front of the CM and Tura MP’s residence, if the teachers’ salary demands are not met.
In a press statement by the president of AHAM, Georgeprince Ch Momin said that all units of the pressure group will join in the protest at the two venues.
