Tension is mounting in Meghalaya as college and deficit schoolteachers have stepped up their protest against the government’s controversial CPF Scheme 2026, calling it unfair, unclear and financially damaging for thousands of educators. Staging what they describe as a peaceful protest during lunch breaks, teachers said the demonstration is a strong message to the government that they reject the newly notified scheme and demand immediate intervention.
Protesting teachers said they are continuing classes as usual and gathering only briefly to register their opposition, insisting the movement is peaceful but deeply serious. According to them, the government had already drafted a pension-related proposal in 2023 and had accepted several suggestions made by college teachers for the benefit of all employees. However, they allege that when the matter was submitted before the court, an entirely different version — the CPF Scheme 2026 — was placed, one they say was never agreed upon.
Teachers claim the scheme lacks clarity on key financial provisions and raises serious concerns over retirement security. One of the biggest objections is that the scheme allegedly does not clearly mention contribution details under the CPF structure, leaving teachers uncertain about how much they are expected to contribute and what benefits they will receive in return.
Protesters also pointed to discrepancies in withdrawal provisions, claiming that while one framework allows 50 percent withdrawal from accumulated savings at retirement, the new CPF Scheme 2026 mentions 60 percent, creating confusion and mistrust. The anger has also been fuelled by delays in accessing CPF funds. Teachers said the government had issued an order in September 2024 directing employees to withdraw by September 30, but nearly 17 months later, many claim their money is still lying in a pooled account without being transferred to individual accounts. This, they say, has left many retired teachers from 2024, 2025 and 2026 in financial distress, with some struggling to meet medical and family expenses.
Calling the situation deeply distressing, protesting teachers said CPF savings are often the first financial support retired employees rely on before gratuity is released. With no response yet from the Chief Minister or the government, teachers say the uncertainty has pushed many retirees into hardship. As the protest grows louder, pressure is now mounting on the Meghalaya government to respond before the unrest escalates further.