Shillong: Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma announced that the state government is in the process of formulating a plan to address the salary demands of over 13,000 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers, who have been pressing for a 100% salary enhancement.
In the face of ongoing protests, Minister Sangma urged the agitating teachers to consider the impact on students’ education and return to the classrooms, assuring that the government is working towards a solution. “We understand the plight of the teachers, but an immediate salary hike may be challenging given the state’s current financial constraints,” he said while speaking to reporters.
Sangma revealed that a meeting with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma is scheduled to discuss possible ways to resolve the issue. While expressing empathy for the teachers’ situation, he emphasized the adverse effects on students who have been missing out on education due to the protests.
The All Meghalaya SSA School Teachers’ Association (AMSSASTA) had earlier appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 7, seeking intervention in increasing the salaries. The association highlighted the rising cost of living and inflation, urging the prime minister to take swift action to alleviate the teachers’ financial burden.
The state government has acknowledged the importance of addressing the teachers’ grievances but remains cautious about the financial implications of a significant salary enhancement.