Members of the Garo Hills Deficit School Teachers’ and Employees’ Association (GHDSTEA) plan to go on a two-day mass leave on June 12 and 13 to protest the lack of salary payments for the past three months. In a statement released on Wednesday, the teachers expressed their frustration and sadness over the ongoing issue. They revealed that they received verbal instructions from the District School Education Officers (DSEOs) and Sub-Divisional Education Officers (SDEOs) to submit salary bills that included a 46% Dearness Allowance (DA), which had been accepted and acknowledged by the Directorate of School Education and Literacy in Shillong. However, despite the submission of these bills, their salaries have not been disbursed.
The teachers had reached out to various authorities, including the Chief Minister and the Education Minister, seeking resolution, but their situation has not improved. Recently, they were given new instructions to resubmit their salary bills with a reduced DA of 43%. This is particularly distressing as this reduction applies to an allowance they had already received for January and February 2025, and the retroactive adjustment has left them feeling devastated.
The teachers highlighted the severe implications of this situation, as many face rising debts, emotional turmoil, and sleepless nights. “It is disheartening that members of the teaching community are now being subjected to such humiliation and neglect. We have always prioritized our students and never wished for their education to be disrupted, but the financial crisis we are facing is pushing us to our limits. Under these circumstances, it will be nearly impossible to conduct the upcoming half-yearly examinations, which would negatively impact our students,” they stated.
The teachers are urging the government and relevant departments to release their overdue salaries for the first quarter, along with the previously promised 46% DA. “This is not merely a financial issue; it is a matter of justice and dignity for teachers who have dedicated themselves to their schools and communities,” they affirmed. The teachers emphasized that their mass leave is a demonstration of their profound discontent and a protest against the unacceptable handling of their collective grievances. They also announced that further communications about the situation will follow a general meeting.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/06/12/gh-teachers-to-go-on-two-day-mass-leave-over-unpaid-salaries/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2025-06-12 04:24:00
