The livelihoods of two persons with disabilities have been thrown into doubt after the government terminated the service of contractual lower primary school teachers.
Albes Rani of Mawphanniew and Idalin Nongran of Mawlaiteng both have physical disabilities and have joined their colleagues who are staging an indefinite hunger strike at Malki Ground against the government’s move.
Rani, who has had a disability in her right hand since birth, used to teach at the Nongthymmai Government Lower Primary School.
Speaking to Highland Post, she said a dark future awaits her and her family because she did not pass the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET).
“Where will I go in this condition to find another job to feed my family? Persons with disabilities are entitled to four percent reservation and so I urge the government not to terminate my service and that of the other teachers,” Rani said.
Nongrang, who has a locomotor disability with her leg, said, “If the government ignores us then they are suppressing the right of the disabled and the rest of the teachers who have mouths to feed.”
Contractual lower primary school teachers began their indefinite hunger strike at Malki Ground on Tuesday in protest against the government’s decision to terminate their services.
The government’s move to terminate the contractual teachers came after the MTET results were declared on February 25 last year.
Out of the 1,200-odd teachers who appeared for the MTET, only 10 percent passed. The teachers said that the sudden move of the government to terminate them from their jobs has left many in the lurch as most are middle aged and would not be able to find another job.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of Sur U Paidbah (Voice of the People) Egenstar Kurkalang has demanded the State government to invite the teachers for talks and give them some other decent job placement if not in the teaching profession.
