Despite not getting all that they wanted, the Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM), which has been spearheading the ad hoc teacher protests, decided today to call off its protest.
The ad hoc teachers had been protesting over a demand for an immediate salary hike and commitment from the government for a guaranteed hike of 5 percent annually. The cabinet did not approve the latter and it proposed hikes of varying amounts dependent on the type of teacher; the ad hoc teachers’ union, FASTOM, had wanted a uniform increase.
FASTOM spokesperson Mayborn Lyngdoh said that, even though they are very sad and disappointed with the decision, they have been left with no option but to call off the protest.
However, FASTOM will continue to push the government to accept the demand for a 5 percent increment.
Lyngdoh urged the teachers to go back happy and not think about the money but instead to think of their victory.
He added that if the protests continue, things might take another turn and get ugly.
“FASTOM is trying its best on how to move forward and how to make education better so that we can once again become the education hub of the North East and also India,” Lyngdoh said, adding that one of the suggestions to the government is to streamline the various categories of teacher to just three – government teachers, teachers of aided schools and private sector teachers.
