Shillong, Sept 5: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that huge impact would be felt on the state’s exchequer following the sudden decision of the Centre to reduce the fund relating to payment of salary for teachers of SSA-sponsored schools.

“We are at a very critical juncture where there will be a huge impact on the state’s budget because of the sudden decrease in the salaries of the SSA teachers,” Sangma told reporters here on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Human Resources Development through its Project Approval Board (PAB) on May 25, had approved Rs 26610 lakh which is Rs 3210.78 less than Rs 29829.78 lakh proposed by the state government during its meeting to consider the Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) 2018-19 of Samagra Shiksha for Meghalaya.

According to the PAB, the financial support was extended for the teachers’ salary (elementary & secondary) as per norms of new integrated scheme Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

Of Rs 26610 lakh, the PAB has approved only Rs 10465.2 lakh for 5814 lower primary teachers (contractual) at Rs 15,000 per month per teacher and Rs 16144.8 lakh for 6727 upper primary teachers at Rs 20,000 per month per teacher.

It also clearly stated that the state will take care for any additionalities of teachers, and it would also not be feasible (possible) to carry forward the financial liability (accountability) of the current financial year (2018-19) to coming next any financial year.

Stating that most states including Meghalaya do not agree as bringing the fund down was something not unacceptable, he said, “we decided not to accept the Centre’s decision and we have been trying to negotiate and fighting for our teachers for the past 4-5 months on this.”

Of 29829.78 lakhs, the state government has proposed Rs 13286.73 lakh 5814 lower primary teachers (contractual) at Rs 19,044 per month per teacher while Rs 16543.04 lakh for 6727 upper primary teachers at Rs 20,493 per month per teacher.

Meghalaya has a total of 12,541 teachers working under SSA funded schools across the state.

The chief minister however said the state government has decided to agree to the Centre’s offer since there has been a delay in releasing the salary of the teachers for the past five months.

“Now we are at a point where we have to decide on how to cap that difference of funds that are being reduced by the Centre for all states and the amount is quite big it is going to be quite a challenge for the state government to fulfil,” he said.

The SSA teachers under the banner of the All Meghalaya SSA School Teachers’ Association (AMSSASTA) also staged a sit-in-demonstration to protest against the delay in releasing of their five-month salary.

Asked whether the government is considering to pay the existing salary structure to the SSA teachers, the chief minister however said, “We are working on that and it will be inappropriate for me to comment as a lot of homework needs to be done as the amount is quite huge and it will cross Rs 100 crore. This is not easy, and it requires a lot of exercise with the finance and revenue departments.”

Meanwhile, the chief minister expressed hope that the government would be able to resolve the situation at the earliest and assured that it would also ensure that the teachers are not affected.