SSA teachers of Meghalaya to launch post-card campaign from Dec 15

SHILLONG:

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers of Meghalaya have decided to launch a Post Card Campaign from December 15 to protest against the delay of the government of India to release the funds to Meghalaya.

According to the president of the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA), Aristotle C. Rymbai, the post-cards will be sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), through online and offline mode.

At least 12,541 SSA teachers (5814 lower primary and 6727 upper primary teachers) have not received their salary for five months, from August to December this year, Rymbai said.

“The teachers had been facing several financial problems and had to borrow money from their relatives and friends to manage their everyday expenses,” Rymbai alleged.

He stated that the Ministry of Education, Department of School Education & Literacy (DSE&L), Government of India is yet to release the 1st instalment of central share to the State of Meghalaya.

“We have represented the issue of non-payment of salaries to concerned authorities multiple times. And were recently informed that due to the delay in the release of central funds, the State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya (SEMAM-SSA) is not in a position to pay the pending salary to the SSA teachers,” Rymbai said.

It was informed that despite several meetings and discussions with officials of the Ministry, the condition remains the same.

“SEMAM-SSA is trying to release the salary to SSA teachers before Christmas festival subjected to funds to be received from the Ministry,” the MSSASA president said.

The association has stated that the Post Card campaign to the PMO is to pressurise the government of India to release the funds before Christmas.

In the present situation of COVID-19 pandemic, teachers are finding it hard to manage their daily expenses coupled with reminders from their wards’ schools to pay the fees, medical expenses besides others, Rymbai said.

(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)

Also Read: EDITORIAL | Colonial hangover or just fair-skin obsession?