Hundreds of teachers held a protest rally in the city and threatened to intensify their agitation if the government ignored their demand.
Khasi, Jaintia Deficit School Teachers Association president E D Nongsain said the teachers would hold a demonstration again on September 15, 16 and 17 at various places across the state. Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said the agitation was not justified as the state was reeling under financial crunch.
We have told them repeatedly that once the funds are available, the arrears would be paid, she said. Lyngdoh said Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is in New Delhi to meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and seek Rs 159 crore aid from the Centre for disbursing the arrears of the government employees.
There are around 2,400 deficit school teachers in the state and the government requires around Rs 52 crore to pay the arrears to all the teachers, including those in deficit schools.