Northeast Desk, 7th August: Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam Sangma has called on the protesting Samagra Shiksha (SSA) non-academic staff to cease their agitation as the state government is set to address their salary demands.
Sangma acknowledged that the staff’s grievances are valid, citing that their current salary structure is “not systematic.” He assured reporters that the government would consider the staff’s demand for an enhanced salary.
The call for resolution follows a recent meeting where the state government’s rationalisation committee promised to address the issue in writing. This committee was established to review and potentially revise the salaries of SSA staff at various levels.
The protest, which began with an indefinite sit-in demonstration at Malki ground in Shillong on July 31, was triggered by the staff’s dissatisfaction with the government’s proposed 25 per cent salary increase. The employees are demanding an 80 per cent hike, arguing that their stagnant salaries since 2016 do not meet the increasing cost of living.
The Meghalaya government had previously announced the 25 per cent salary enhancement on July 26. The dispute affects over 1,037 non-teaching staff under the SSA programme.
Read More: Arunachal: Woman Arrested in Drug Bust at Grocery Shop in Naharlagun