Teachers Deserve Better
Editor,
I wish to appreciate Napoleon S. Mawphniang for his thought-provoking article, “How Long Will Meghalaya Keep Its Teachers Pushing Sisyphus’s Boulder?” published in The Shillong Times on October 13, 2026. He has rightly drawn attention to the challenges faced by teachers in Meghalaya in securing fair salaries, job security and recognition of their services. His comparison of their struggles with the endless labour of Sisyphus aptly reflects the frustration that can arise when genuine concerns remain unresolved for a long time.
The concerns of serving teachers deserve sympathetic consideration. These include timely salaries, fair pay, regularisation of eligible teachers, equal pay for equal work, clear service rules and suitable opportunities for promotion. Teachers also need protection from unfair treatment and excessive non-teaching duties so that they can concentrate on their primary responsibility of teaching. Addressing these concerns would help strengthen the education system and support those who play an important role in shaping the future of our children.
The Centralised Provident Fund (CPF) and the pending retirement-related claims of employees of Deficit Grant-in-Aid Schools and Colleges are also matters of concern. The reported transfer of CPF contributions to a centralised fund has led to questions about the benefits available to eligible retired employees and the procedure for settling their claims. It would be helpful if the concerned authorities could clarify the applicable provisions and explain the steps being taken to address these matters.
The difficulties faced by some retired teachers and non-teaching staff deserve particular attention. After years of dedicated service, they naturally hope to spend their retirement in peace and dignity. However, some may face financial difficulties in meeting essential expenses, including food, medicines and healthcare. Reports that some employees have passed away before their pension-related concerns were resolved make it all the more important to examine these matters with care and compassion. Their expectations are not for special favours, but for fair consideration of their legitimate claims.
It would not be appropriate to suggest that the Government has made no efforts to address these issues. Various measures may have been taken, and it is important to recognise such efforts. At the same time, it would be useful to understand whether the existing arrangements adequately meet the social security needs of eligible retired teachers and non-teaching staff. Since CPF benefits and pension-related entitlements may differ according to the applicable rules, a clear explanation of the available benefits and procedures would help remove uncertainty among retired employees.
These matters have received attention many a time in The Shillong Times through articles and letters to the editor. Continued public discussion can help improve understanding and encourage constructive solutions. It is therefore hoped that the concerns raised will receive due consideration and that further steps will be taken, wherever necessary, to provide clarity and timely relief to those eligible for benefits.
In this regard, the State Government is respectfully requested to continue its efforts to address the concerns of serving teachers through clear policies and appropriate timelines. The concerned authorities may also kindly review the pending claims of eligible retired employees of deficit grant-in-aid schools and colleges, clarify the arrangements relating to the centralised fund and communicate the expected process and timeframe for resolving outstanding matters.
Napoleon S. Mawphniang has brought an important issue to public attention. It is hoped that continued dialogue between the Government, teachers and other concerned stakeholders will help find a fair and practical way forward. Serving teachers deserve appropriate service conditions and fair treatment, while retired employees deserve clarity, security and dignity after years of dedicated service. Timely attention to these concerns would go a long way towards ensuring that those who have devoted their lives to education receive the consideration they deserve.
Yours etc,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
From Darugiri’s mineral wealth to a Manufacturing Ecosystem
Editor,
Meghalaya’s industrial aspirations must move beyond announcing factories towards building industries rooted in local resources. There is a need for development of Meghalaya Ceramic Tiles at Darugiri in the Garo Hills which offers an opportunity to connect the State’s mineral wealth with manufacturing, employment and entrepreneurship.
Meghalaya possesses documented deposits of kaolin(black clay), industrial clay, quartz and feldspar. Yet geological abundance alone cannot guarantee industrial competitiveness. The quality, recoverability and commercial suitability of these minerals must be independently assessed before they are integrated into ceramic production. The States Industries Department, in coordination with the Directorate of Mineral Resources, should undertake a mineral-to-market feasibility study to determine how much of the factory’s raw-material requirements can be met locally and where external sourcing remains necessary.
A competitive manufacturing hub cannot be built merely by establishing factories; it requires an ecosystem of skilled workers, specialised suppliers, technological innovation and reliable infrastructure. Meghalaya should encourage local MSMEs to supply packaging, mineral processing, transport, equipment maintenance and other industrial inputs. This would allow economic benefits to extend beyond the factory gates.
Another important facet which is largely ignored, is the development of human capital. ITIs and polytechnics should introduce industry-linked training in ceramic technology, kiln operations, quality control and industrial maintenance. Reliable electricity, efficient logistics, accessible testing facilities and connections to markets in Assam and the wider Northeast are indispensable to sustaining competitiveness.
Industrialisation must also be environmentally responsible. Cleaner kiln technologies, waste recovery, water recycling and the scientific management of mining operations should be incorporated from the outset.
However, the expansion of corporate ceramic manufacturing must proceed alongside the preservation of Meghalaya’s traditional black pottery. In Tachung village, the indigenous craft continues to survive through community hands, using black clay and serpentine in a tradition passed down through generations. This is not merely pottery; it represents accumulated knowledge, cultural identity and a living relationship between communities and their natural surroundings.
A portion of the revenue generated by Meghalaya’s ceramic-tile manufacturing units should be channelled into a dedicated Black Pottery Heritage and Livelihood Fund for the artisans of Tachung village. The fund could support a structured marketing network, fair remuneration, digital commerce, exhibitions, tourism linkages and partnerships with responsible retailers, alongside the assessment of geographical indication protection where appropriate.
The objective must be larger than establishing a single manufacturing unit. Darugiri should become a catalyst for a network of competitive Meghalaya-based enterprises, transforming mineral resources into value addition, skilled employment and durable economic opportunity.
Yours etc.,
Shahin Yusuf
Guwahati