Shillong, Mar 2: Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday announced government’s decision to release 2-months salary to SSA teachers, amounting to about Rs. 58 crore.

Rymbui made the announcement after discussing the issue of pending salaries of SSA teachers with the delegation of Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) led by its president Aristotle C Rymbai. Earlier in the day, hundreds of SSA teachers staged a massive protest rally from Polo Grounds to main Secretariat demanding release of their 5-months of salary.

While the rally was stopped by the police personnel near Raj Bhavan, a 6-member delegation was allowed to meet the Education Minister. While the delegation was discussing the issue with the Minister, the remaining teachers, numbering about 500, proceeded to the Malki ground, where they waited for the outcome of the meeting.

After the meeting, Rymbai informed that the government has agreed to release two months’ salary, i.e., for the month of October and November, 2021 from the capping norms.

For the remaining three months, i.e., December, January and February, Rymbai said the minister has assured to clear the pending salaries as soon as the government receives the second installment from the government of India.

Govt tirelessly pursuing the matter: Rymbui

Meanwhile, Education Minister Rymbui said the teachers have every right to demand for their salaries, since it’s their basic right. He also assured that the state government is tirelessly pursuing the issue with the Central Government to release the second installment.

“I have assured the SSA teachers that the state government will release two months’ salary at the earliest as possible which is from the state government,” he said.

According to the state government, Rs 29 crore is required per month to pay the SSA teachers in the state.

At the same time, the Minister was hopeful that the Centre will release the second installment in coming weeks.