SHILLONG, March 14 - Meghalaya Education Minister Lakmen Rymbui today informed the Assembly that the State Government is yet to receive an amount of about Rs 700 crore from the Central Government necessary for payment of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers� salaries.
Replying to a Call Attention Notice moved by Opposition Congress member Mayralborn Syiem on the last day of the Budget session of the State Assembly, Rymbui said, due to the delay in release of fund from Centre, SSA teachers� salaries could not be disbursed.
�Meghalaya is yet to receive an amount of about Rs 700 crore from the Government of India, which has accumulated for the last three months and led to delay in disbursal of teachers� salaries,� he said.
He, however, informed that the Education department has received an amount of Rs 94 crore from the State Government on March 5, which will be used for paying the pending SSA teachers� salary.
Moving the notice, Syiem spoke of the plight of the SSA teachers due to irregular payment of their salaries. He said these teachers having their families have been facing hardship as they are yet to receive their salaries for the past four months.
Pointing to the services provided by these teachers, Syiem made an ardent appeal that their salaries be released on time so that education is not affected in the State.
Meanwhile, the Assembly today passed the Meghalaya Appropriation (No.II) Bill, 2019 to enable the State Government to withdraw an amount of Rs 16,376.93 crore out of the Consolidated Fund of Meghalaya for the financial year 2019-2020.
The amount will enable the State Government towards defraying the several charges which will come in course of payment during the financial year ending March 1, 2020.
Later, the House was adjourned in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, after just five days of business.
