Shillong, Meghalaya – The Meghalaya government has announced a forthcoming discussion with the Samagra Shiksha (SSA) non-academic staff regarding their demands for salary increases. Commissioner & Secretary of Education Vijay Kumar Mantri revealed that the second meeting of the rationalization committee is scheduled for August 8.
Mantri explained that while the committee had previously issued partial recommendations, the staff had expressed dissatisfaction and called for a uniform 80 percent salary increase across all categories. He pointed out that this demand would result in equal pay for both new and long-serving employees, disregarding seniority and experience.
“Their demand is for a blanket 80 percent increase, which would ignore differences in tenure and experience,” Mantri said. “Currently, the salary of a District Education Officer (DEO) is Rs 8,000, while a Coordinator earns Rs 35,000. Implementing this demand would raise the DEO’s salary to Rs 14,400 and the Coordinator’s to Rs 63,000, significantly widening the salary gap.”
The first meeting of the 20-member rationalization committee, held on August 2, resulted in several recommendations. These include:
- Increasing Block DEO salaries to Rs 14,000 for those with less than 5 years of service, Rs 15,000 for 5 years, and Rs 16,000 for 10 years.
- Raising Block MIS Coordinators’ salaries to Rs 15,000 for less than 5 years, Rs 16,500 for 5 years, and Rs 18,500 for 10 years.
- Enhancing Block ACSS salaries to Rs 16,000 for less than 5 years, Rs 17,500 for 5 years, and Rs 19,000 for 10 years.
- Increasing the salary of Chowkidar, Cleaner, and Peon to at least Rs 14,000.
The indefinite sit-in demonstration by the SSA non-teaching staff, led by the All Meghalaya SSA Non-Teaching Staffs Association (AMSSANTSA), entered its fifth day on August 4. Protesters have been conducting sermons and gospel singing at the demonstration site.