SHILLONG: The Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) has launched an indefinite strike, escalating tensions in Meghalaya’s education sector.
President Boswell Pala criticized the state education department for recycling old assurances on dearness allowance (DA) and DA arrears, saying teachers are left in limbo with no clear timeline for payment.
At the heart of the dispute is the Centralised Provident Fund (CPF) Scheme.
KJDSTA accuses the government of undermining the 2023 draft framework and ignoring by-laws mandating a three-year Board of Trustees term.
Pala called the January 2026 CPF scheme an “absurd joke” and demanded an independent board for deficit teachers, rejecting what he called the department’s patronizing approach.
Pala also refuted official claims of a smooth recruitment process, citing blocked job ads and denied approvals despite vetting by local authorities.
He dismissed the education department’s last-minute appeal to keep teachers in schools, stating the government itself had forced educators onto the streets by denying basic rights.
He further criticized directives to School Managing Committees (SMCs) to arrange alternative measures during the strike, calling them unworkable given financial constraints.
Pala expressed confidence that SMCs would support the teachers’ protest, urging recognition of the legitimacy of their demands.
(4FrontMedia news)
