Funds released for salary payment to SSA teachers

A Correspondent  

Shillong,  April 4: In a big relief to teachers working under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) of the state, funds amounting to around Rs 135 crore for payment of the pending salary was filly released by the Centre to the state government.

Around 12,481 teachers working under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) of the state will be benefitted from the move.

On Wednesday, a delegation of Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) under the leadership of  Aristotle C Rymbai met Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

"The Chief Minister informed us the funds for releasing of five months pending salary for the period from November 2017 to March 2018 for disbursement to the teachers will be transferred from the Treasury Branch to the SSA-SEMAM Account for disbursement to the respective DMCs within this week,"  Aristotle Rymbai said.

The association's president informed that for the last five months the teachers did not get a single penny even as he thanked the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government under the leadership of Conrad Sangma for the release of their pending salaries. "We really owe our sincere thanks to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma as the leader of the team, Lahkmen Rymbui, Minister of Education and all the officials of SSA-SEMAM for their hardwork and dedication towards the Welfare of the SSA teachers in the State" Rymbai added.

Lauding the MDA government, the association of SSA teachers in the state said that the Chief Minister and his team had proved it that nothing is impossible if there is desire and willingness.

"We also hope that the eight months pending arrears salary of last fincial year 2016-17 will also be released very soon as assured to us by the Chief Minister," Rymbai said. The pending arrears amounts to around Rs 70 crore, the Chief Minister informed.