SHILLONG, JULY 1: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Friday said there may be some “hidden agenda” behind the decision of the ad hoc teachers to continue with their indefinite sit-in-demonstration even after the state government had given a clear cut assurance to enhance the lump sum grant to such government aided schools.

Tynsong had invited a delegation of the adhoc school teachers under the banner of the Federation of School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) today and requested them to call off the protest as the government will take a final decision on their demands – which include enhancing the salary of adhoc teachers by Rs 18,000 and 5% yearly increment – in the third cabinet meeting to be held very soon.

However, the FASTOM is yet to consider the request and has continued with the indefinite protest till filing of this report.

Responding to a query, Tynsong said, “It is up to them but let me tell you if you do that (continue with the protest) means some hidden agenda is there. I have already promised them and the Chief Minister has already promised them so why do you still have to sleep on the road? Let the people of Meghalaya judge.”

Asked if the government suspects that the protest is politically motivated, the deputy chief minister however said, “That you ask from them why they should not be happy with the meeting I had with them.”

Tynsong informed that he had personally requested the teachers to call off their agitation and go back to their respective homes “and in case the government fails to take a decision in the next cabinet meeting then you can again come back to agitation.”

He said the proposal for enhancing the grant in aid to adhoc schools will be part of the discussion in the next cabinet meeting.

Stating that the aided schools are fully owned by the organizations including churches, localities etc, the deputy chief minister said appointment of teachers are being done by their respective school managing committees (SMCs).

“I feel that the SMCs have to take the whole responsibility about the welfare and how to take care of their teachers as the government only provides a lump sum grant to each aided school in the state of Meghalaya. Once the lump sum grant is released it goes directly to the pocket of the SMCs and then they will take necessary steps releasing it to the teachers – that is the system being followed. Therefore, I appeal to the SMCs to step in and also share the responsibility for the interest of their teachers or employees,” he asserted.

Earlier after the meeting, FASTOM spokesman Mayborn Lyngdoh told reporters that they are convinced by the assurance given by the deputy chief minister but calling off the protest would depend on the decision taken by the adhoc teachers.

“He (Tynsong) has assured us that 101% of our demands will be approved in the next cabinet meeting. When we expressed that we will wait until the 3rd meeting materialized, he said that is our wish. However, we assured that we are going back and asking the teachers whether they want to go back home or whether they want to wait. It is up to them,” he said.

When asked, Lyngdoh said that the teachers are completely not aware of the process of their appointment in the adhoc schools.

“When it comes to the appointment, how it is being done is between the government and the managing committees, we are the ones who were appointed, so we do not know the process – so that is up to the government and the managing committee to discuss between themselves,” he said.

“Regarding the grievances, that is again between the managing committees and the government because we are the appointed and not employers which is why we do not know about the process as we passed and got the job through the interview,” he added.

Defending the SMCs, the FASTOM spokesperson said, “It is difficult for us to say who should be taking the responsibility but we just know that our salaries are being paid by the government and we are looking for enhancement from the government.”

Lyngdoh further refuted the allegations that the SMCs are deducting a certain percentage from the salary of the teachers. He also refused to give a direct reply if the protest by the teachers is backed by the SMCs.