12,000 primary school teachers of Assam write to PM Modi demanding pending salaries

As many as 12,000 primary school teachers of Assam, who were appointed between 1991 and 2001, on Monday sent letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention for payment of pending salaries.

General Secretary of All Assam Salary Deprived Assistant Teachers Association Ramen Saikia informed that teachers in service, retired teachers and the families of those who died had sent letters individually.

Saikia said "Lower and upper primary school teachers were given appointment letters by the Government of Assam with proper financial sanction. However, in 2006, they were declared to be appointed illegally."

"Till 1996, the teachers were receiving their salaries regularly. Then it stopped and again resumed between 2001-06, only to be stalled again" Saikia added.

It may be mentioned here that the teachers have been regularly taking classes in the schools without salary till now.

Saikia also informed that out of the 12,000 teachers, 3,000 had retired without receiving salary and 1,100 were dead along with 91 allegedly committing suicide.

(Inputs from PTI)