FASTOM ends stir after Meghalaya government four-point offer

The Federation of All School Teachers of Meghalaya (FASTOM) on Thursday ended its indefinite sit-in-demonstration after accepting a four-point offer of the State government to resolve their long-pending demands.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma held talks with FASTOM leaders, who staged an indefinite sit-in protest at Malki ground from September 22, to press home their long-pending demands, including upgradation of all ad-hoc teachers to the deficit system.
“We ended our indefinite sit-in-demonstration after the government came up with a four-point offer to resolve our genuine demands. The four-point offer to provide teachers with a basic pay structure, dearness allowance (DA), central provident fund (CPF) and death-cum retirement gratuity (DCRG),” FASTOM vice-president Sanborn Jungai said.
He said the issue of upgrading the ad-hoc teachers to the deficit system of deficit pattern was deliberated during the meeting and the Chief Minister has explained the financial implications.
Jungai said the government has agreed to provide ad-hoc teachers with a basic pay structure based on seniority, with different slabs depending on years of experience. Moreover, he said that the government has agreed to provide DA once a year to help teachers cope with inflation.
With regard to the CPF, Jungai said the government will contribute 8 percent to the CPF, while teachers will contribute another 8 percent.
Although the government has decided to provide DCRG, Jungai, however, said that FASTOM will discuss with the State Education department for teachers’ contribution to the DCRG.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who also holds the Finance portfolio, had reportedly told FASTOM members that the government wants to give teachers a “Christmas gift” but needs three months to prepare the new pay structure.
The new pay structure will be implemented from April 1, 2026, and will benefit around 10,000 teachers, including Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, and Higher Secondary teachers.