The Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) has issued a two-month ultimatum to the state government, urging it to formulate a policy that secures the services of SSA teachers in the state, similar to the measures implemented in other states.
Speaking to the media after the general meeting of SSA teachers, MSSASA President Aristotle C. Rymbai said, “Today, we have gathered here, and after detailed deliberation and discussion, we unanimously have taken a decision to choose or opt out of these two that is out of enhancement of salary or security of service of SSA teachers, we have choose to put pressure to the government to come up with a policy to secure the service of SSA teachers in the state of Meghalaya as done in other states of the country.”
He continued, “We have also decided to give an ultimatum to the government—a two-month timeframe. During this period, the education department should complete all formalities and put up the file to the cabinet for necessary action by the state government.”
Rymbai further added, “If the state government fails to come up with a policy within these two months, the association will have no choice but to organize a democratic movement—an agitation.”
The MSSASA is set to submit a formal statement to the government, stating its demands. “We plan to submit this decision tomorrow. Additionally, during this two-month period, we will meet all 12 cabinet ministers, including Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, to request them to formulate a policy that ensures job security for SSA teachers in the state,” Rymbai stated.
Rymbai also highlighted the association’s recent discussions with key officials. “We met the State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Swapnil Tembe, and the Commissioner & Secretary of Education, Vijay Kumar Mantri. They have informed us that at present out of this two demands, number one, that is enhancement of salary and number two is the security of our service or to merge us from the state implementations society to the Education department, the government preparing a cabinet memorandum to come up with a policy, how to absorb SSA teachers to the education department.”
“So based on this information, we have received from the authority concern of the education department, we have called General Council Executive (GCE) Meeting on the 21st of September in that GCE meeting unanimously we have taken a decision to take up this agenda in the general meeting of the SSA Teachers,” he added.