Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui today appealed to the Federation of All School Teachers Of Meghalaya (FASTOM), which represents ad hoc teachers in the state, to work with the government and for there to be mutual trust between the two parties.
FASTOM has been involved in an extended fight for higher pay to put them on par with deficit system teachers. The government is still considering their demand. To pressure the government further, the teachers have restarted their ‘non-cooperation’ movement.
Rymbui said that the government is still assessing the demand to up the teacher salaries to Rs 18,000 per month with a 5 percent increment every year.
“I’ve spoken on the floor of the Assembly about the process of enhancement and that increments are being worked out but it is not an easy process. The decision taken by the government does not affect only the Education Department but other departments as well,” said Rymbui.
He added that the duty of the government is not only to pay the salaries but to ensure that whatever decision the government takes is not impacting other departments.
“We have to also see in the long run if the government can fulfill the demands or not. It is not easy to make this sort of decision and that’s why a conscious decision will be taken,” added Rymbui.
