Shillong: Hundreds of teachers marched through Shillong on Wednesday to demand state action. The All Meghalaya Primary School Teachers’ Association (AMPSTA) led the protest from Golflink through the city. They targeted the NPP office and the Chief Secretary’s bungalow. Their goal remains an eight-point charter of demands.
AMPSTA general secretary F.C. Shullai confirmed the government met four requests. They agreed to restore sanctioned posts in government and deficit schools. Teachers now want a hard timeline for regularizing posts created before 2007. Shullai noted: "We want the government to come out with a final decision and clarify how long the process will take."
Financial security remains a sore spot. Teachers are pushing for the full adoption of the government PRAN system to ensure interest on savings. They also flagged Rs 23 crore in CCPF dues held at the State Bank of India in Laitumkhrah. Teachers cannot currently collect interest on these retirement deposits.
The association is fighting the current classification of 2,718 schools. They oppose the School Provident Fund (SPF) and want ad-hoc and SSA teachers to have more independence. They also demand more staff for single-teacher schools and exemptions from Census and Booth Level Officer duties.
The group’s executive will meet in Tura soon. They will weigh the government’s response to these unresolved items. Further agitation looms if the state stalls. Shullai warned: "If the government does not respond satisfactorily to our demands, we have no other alternative but to intensify our agitation." This could lead to a total shutdown of schools.
Comments