Fed up with the “lies” and “games” of the state government, ad hoc teachers under the banner of the Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) will boycott all school duties from tomorrow.
The teachers hit the streets again today in front of the Secretariat after their patience in waiting for the government to make a positive move regarding their demands was exhausted.
Ad hoc teachers at all levels – from pre-primary to higher secondary – will effectively be on strike. FASTOM has also launched round-the-clock protests, with teachers camping out in front of the Secretariat through the night. Teachers in Garo Hills, meanwhile, are assembling outside the Mini-Secretariat in Tura.
Speaking to reporters today afternoon, FASTOM leader Mayborn Lyngdoh said that they were forced to come back to the street and protest for their demands.
“On May 12, when we met Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in the presence of the Additional Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, we were assured that our demand would be addressed within the third cabinet meeting but it turned out that they lied to us again,” he said.
The ad hoc teachers are seeking a pay hike and increments of 5 per cent a year, with the aim to eventually bring them in line with deficit teachers.
FASTOM had sent a reminder letter to the government on June 12, warning that it was prepared to launch its protests again if the demands are not met.
“We are done with their assurances and their cabinet meetings and we have decided to carry out an indefinite protest as long as we can until we get a direct order from the government relating to our demands,” Lyngdoh said.
Yesterday’s cabinet meeting agreed to a proposal to restructure the management system of the scandal-plagued and financially struggling Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL) and its subsidiary companies. The FASTOM leader took aim at this decision.
“We saw in yesterday’s cabinet meeting the government has segregated the post of the Chairman and Managing Director in the MeECL, which means that an additional post has been created that will need additional clerical posts, peons and drivers, which means additional expenses for this incompetent Power Department but nothing for the teachers because the government knows that there are no profits in fulfilling our demand,” he said.
