Shillong, October 31: The Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers Association (KJDSTA) has accused the Meghalaya government of attempting to weaken the existing Deficit School System by failing to address the long-pending demands of deficit school teachers across the state. The association has also warned of intensifying its agitation if the government continues to remain unresponsive to the grievances of teachers.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting between the KJDSTA and members of the School Managing Committees of deficit schools on Saturday, KJDSTA President Boswell Pala expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to fulfil its assurances, particularly concerning the release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) to deficit school teachers.
Pala pointed out that the state government had recently announced through the media that the pending Dearness Allowance would be released before the Puja festival. However, he alleged that the government had failed to honour its commitment. “Till today, the government has not fulfilled its promise to release the Dearness Allowance. Moreover, it has failed to address the various demands raised by deficit school teachers across the state,” Pala said. He alleged that the government’s continued silence and failure to address the teachers’ grievances suggested a deliberate attempt to weaken the existing Deficit School System in Meghalaya.
According to Pala, any attempt to undermine the system would have serious consequences, affecting not only serving teachers but also the overall education sector in the state. He further expressed concern that such a move could adversely affect aspiring teachers seeking employment opportunities in deficit schools in the coming years. Maintaining that the demands of deficit school teachers were legitimate, Pala urged the state government to take immediate steps to address their grievances and honour its earlier commitments.
Meanwhile, Pala informed that the KJDSTA, along with the Garo Hills Deficit School Teachers and Employees Association (GHDSTEA), would intensify their agitation if the government continued to ignore their demands. He asserted that both associations would continue to press for the rights and interests of deficit school teachers and employees across Meghalaya until their grievances were addressed.
