Primary school teachers hold protest in Shillong

Primary school teachers in Meghalaya today renewed their demand for enhanced salary prior to the assembly elections by staging a protest near Raj Bhavan.

Hundreds of upper primary school teachers demonstrated amidst tight security against the alleged failure of the government to fulfil its commitment made in July on increasing salaries.

A delegation of the Meghalaya Upper Primary School Teachers Association later met Chief Secretary W M S Pariat with the demand.

"We were given an assurance that he would follow up with the concerned department and the Chief Minister on our demand within ten days," Association general secretary K Shadap told reporters after the meeting.

"On July 20, the government had, through an official communication, promised to increase the salary of teachers which is yet to fructify," Shadap said.

The Association has been demanding a hike in the salary of assistant teachers from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 and of head teacher from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 with effect from April 1 this year.