Shillong, Nov 1: Deficit school teachers in Khasi and Jaintia Hills have threatened to intensify their agitation while lamenting that the state government has turned a deaf ear to their demands pending for almost two years.
Managing committees of various deficit schools have stood by the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) on the latter’s stand on the issues plaguing the deficit system, KJDSTA president Boswell Pala said on Saturday.
He listed the main issues as non-implementation of Centralised Provident Fund at 10 percent, with contribution still stuck at 8 percent, delay in DA enhancement and arrears, NPS, the 2023 and 2026 pension schemes which the KJDSTA has rejected, alleged manipulation in reconstitution of the Board of Trustees, and recruitment to deficit posts.
The government also allegedly went back on its assurance on the DA issue.
“They told us that we would get the DA enhancement, the DA arrears before the Puja holidays. Now, another holiday will be coming up, we still don’t get that DA enhancement, DA arrears,” Pala said.
He said the association had submitted its charter of demands to the Chief Minister and had also taken mass casual leave, but the response received on October 8 was not satisfactory.
“We have just had the meeting between the EC of the KJDSTA and the different school managing committees, and I am quite honoured, in fact, quite humbled to say that the response was simply overwhelming,” Pala said.
“The managing committees are quite supportive of our fight, of our struggle and they wish us all the best,” he added.
Pala said the exact form of agitation will be finalised by the executive committee.
“We will not relent, we will only intensify from now on,” he said.
