As Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui may be getting all the flak for the way the government is handling the dispute with ad hoc teachers in their demands for higher pay, but the government as a whole should take collective responsibility for the issue.
This was stated by United Democratic Party general secretary Jemino Mawthoh; Rymbui is his party colleague.
Mawthoh also said that, to resolve the matter, a lot depends on the Finance Department, the portfolio of which is held by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
“We want all the cabinet ministers to take this as a collective responsibility and not solely blame the Education Minister. Let them sit together and bring the best concerning the plight of the teachers,” he said.
The ad hoc teachers have launched another agitation in Shillong and Tura since yesterday. They are seeking a pay hike and increments of 5 percent a year, with the aim to eventually bring them in line with deficit teachers.
When asked if the demand to remove Rymbui is justified, Mawthoh said that the minister is very concerned about the hardships facing the teachers but that his options are limited unless the Finance Department agrees.
