| SHILLONG: The state government has okayed clearance of college teachers' pending arrears worth Rs 47 crore.
"The government has directed the department concerned to disburse the pending arrears of college teachers under the University Grants Commission (UGC) scale which has been their long-pending demand. The government sincerely appreciates their patience and hopes that this will go a long way in solving their problems," chief minister Mukul Sangma said. The decision of the government to clear the dues of the teachers followed a high-level meeting of the finance department convened by the chief minister to review the fiscal position of the state after June end.
"In April this year, the matter was brought to the notice of the government and after scrutiny, following proper comprehension of our fiscal position, we have decided to release 80 per cent pending arrears of the teachers," the chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, said.
When queried on the delay in releasing the funds, Sangma replied that the issue was being addressed by the government in "right earnest" and that the department concerned was "sincerely engaged" in trying to work out an early solution. "Certain procedural requirements to affect the release of the funds have been eased in this particular case as the government wants to ensure that the teachers get their dues," he iterated. The teachers have been knocking the government's doors seeking release of their dues according to UGC guidelines. |