Shillong: Deficit school teachers in Meghalaya have slammed the state government for trying to hoodwink the public. The Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers Association and the Garo Hills Deficit School Teachers and Employees Association rejected a government reply regarding dearness allowance arrears and the 2026 pension scheme. Teachers began a three-day mass casual leave on October 14.
KJDSTA president Boswell Pala accused the government of playing dirty. He told reporters, "The government had deliberately circulated to the media on Tuesday a letter sent to the associations on October 8 to create the impression that their demands had been addressed." The associations claim the letter ignored their core complaints while bringing up irrelevant issues.
Teachers say the government bragged about paying arrears at 39% to 43% levels. They claim individual payouts hit a meager Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000. Larger arrears at 51% and 53% remain completely unpaid. The unions also pushed back against the 2026 pension scheme, demanding a return to the 1969 Act for retirement savings. They refused to apply for Permanent Retirement Account Numbers.
The unions pointed to administrative failures during the rollout of the 2026 scheme. They claim they never attended the March 16, 2026 meeting because the notice arrived too late. The government notified the scheme two days later. Further confusion persists regarding the Centralised Provident Fund Account after funds were moved in 2024. A February 28, 2025 gazette notification added to their fears. They also want answers on why a new Board of Trustees formed on April 27, 2026, while the old one vanished.
The unions accept that their strike disrupts school activities like sports and tests. They frame this as a lesson for students. Teachers want children to stand up against injustice. If the government stays silent, the strike will escalate.
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