Teachers' association urges Meghalaya government to hold talks

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya on Tuesday (FASTOM) has urged the State government to invite them for talks and officially record the proceedings.

According to FASTOM president, Kenneth Shadap, on September 27, 2021, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma had invited them for a discussion but unfortunately it was only a verbal meeting.

"We want official meeting with official recording but there was no official recording but only verbal," Shadap said.

According to him, in that particular meeting, the Chief Minister had told the delegation of FASTOM that it was not possible to give deficit system. "...so we have atleast requested him to give deficit pattern," Shadap said.

On Tuesday, the FASTOM in a letter to the State government stated that due to the COVID-19 situation and the financial crisis face by the government, they are ready to comprise on their demand through an offical dialogue on what the government can do and what it cannot do.

"The government should also understand the present situation of the ad-hoc school teachers in the State of Meghalaya. Prices of essential commodities are increasing day-by-day while the meagre salary of the ad-hoc teachers remains the same since 2016 without any increment in the last five years," Shadap said. According to him, ad-hoc teachers have completely lost their identity and dignity in the society.

The FASTOM president also said that on December 22, 2021, he had written to Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, to urge the State government to give into their demands. On December 23, 2021, Athawale in his reply to the letter from FASTOM, forwarded the letter to the Chief Minister.

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