SSA teachers go on leave to press for their demands

Nearly 7,000 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers in Arunachal Pradesh went on a three-day leave today to protest against the state government's failure to fulfill their long-pending demands, including hike in salary and grants during maternity leave.
Making a strong pitch for "equal pay for equal works", the teachers, under the aegis of All Arunachal Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers' Association (AASSATA), said they were underpaid and could barely afford proper education and food for their children.
The association requested the state government to increase their salary in line with 7th Pay Commission's recommendations and Bidol Tayeng Committee reports.
AASSATA had also been demanding grants during child care or maternity leave, its president Tarak Agug Tarh said.

In a statement issued by the association today, Tarh said 6815 teachers from 2030 primary and 1003 upper-primary schools in the state are participating in the protest peacefully.
"The sole responsibility for the losses incurred by the state, owing to the protests of the SSA teachers, lie on the government," he asserted.