Conrad K. Sangma on Friday described the Meghalaya government’s decision to introduce a structured pay framework for SSA and Fourth Teachers as one of the most satisfying moments of his public life, saying the move would improve the lives of thousands of teachers and bring financial stability to their families after years of struggle and uncertainty. Speaking at a felicitation programme organised by the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association and the Meghalaya 4th Teachers Association at Students’ Field in Jaiaw, the Chief Minister said the government’s decision should not be measured only in terms of money spent by the state, but by the long-term impact it would have on teachers, students, and the future of education in Meghalaya. The event was organised to mark the state government’s recent decision to implement a structured pay system aimed at improving service protection and financial security for teachers working under the SSA and Fourth Teacher categories.
Addressing a large gathering of teachers, Sangma thanked the organisations for arranging the programme and said public appreciation from citizens was something political leaders rarely received. He said he felt deeply moved after seeing thousands of teachers gathering for the event and said gratitude and kindness were values that should always remain important in society. The Chief Minister said the government’s decision would directly affect nearly 23,000 teachers and their families across the state. According to him, when family members and students connected to these teachers are also considered, the number of people who would benefit emotionally and financially from the decision would run into lakhs. “For me personally, this may be one of the most satisfying days in the last many years of working for the people and serving the people,” he said during his speech. He added that the real satisfaction for any leader comes from improving people’s lives and bringing hope and dignity to families struggling for stability.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the financial pressure involved in implementing the new pay structure. He recalled the tense discussions that took place while the decision was being finalised at the government level. According to the government, more than Rs 800 crore will be spent every year for implementation of the new pay structure. Despite the large financial burden on the state, Sangma said the decision was necessary because education and teachers could not be viewed only from an economic perspective. He said the value of the decision should instead be seen in terms of how it would help improve the lives of teachers, create better learning conditions for students, and strengthen the future of the state. He further said the government believed that investing in teachers would ultimately help build more responsible and educated citizens for both Meghalaya and the country.