Shillong, Oct 9: The Meghalaya SSA Schools’ Association (MSSASA) demanded from the state government to release additional funds from the state budget in order to clear pending arrear salary of SSA teachers within this month.

In a memorandum submitted to chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, MSSASA president Aristotle C Rymbai said, “we request that immediate necessary action may kindly be taken for release of additional funds for payment of the arrear salary to SSA teachers on or before October 31.”

The pending salary is from July 1, 2016 to February 28, 2017.

Rymbai informed that as per the letter received by the association from A. Ch. Marak, State Project Director, SEMAM, SSA, Shillong on September 11, it was clearly mentioned that the arrear salary could not be paid to SSA teachers due to non-receipt of fund from the government.

“The State Project Director, SEMAM also stated in his letter, the Secretary to the Govt of India, MHRD in his D.O. letter No. F. 2-18/2015-EE.3 dated 13 th February, 2017, informed that the State Government is to release adequate funds from its own resources including the funds devolved under 14 th Finance Commission for implementation of Scheme activities including teacher salary…. a series of correspondence were made with the State Government to release adequate funds for release of arrear salary however, the additional funds required for payment of SSA teachers arrear salary has not yet been received by SEMAM from the state government till date,” he said.

According to him, as per the letter of the Secretary to the Govt of India, MHRD, it is clear that it is the responsibility of the state government to clear the liability towards payment of arrear salary of SSA teachers during financial year 2016-17.

He said the arrear salary could not be paid to SSA teachers even after a gap of almost 4 years due to non release of additional funds by the state government to SEMAM.