By Tripura24 News Desk | Agartala Thursday, January 29, 2026
AGARTALA: The All Tripura Madrassa Teachers’ Association (ATMTA) State Committee organized a poignant farewell ceremony today at the capital to honor retiring educators for their decades of dedicated service to the minority education sector. The event was followed by a significant press conference where the association leadership outlined their roadmap for 2026, focusing on long-pending demands for pay parity and job security.
Honoring a Lifetime of Dedication
The ceremony was organized to bid a formal farewell to several veteran Madrassa teachers who reached their superannuation this month. Speaking at the event, the association leaders expressed their gratitude to the retirees for shaping the lives of thousands of students despite facing years of financial hardship and administrative neglect.
Press Conference: Demand for Justice and Parity
Following the felicitation, Vice-President Shah Alam and General Secretary Jakir Hossain addressed the media at the Agartala Press Club. They highlighted the “dual standards” currently existing in Tripura’s education system, where Madrassa teachers under the SPEMM (Scheme for Providing Education in Madrassas/Minorities) continue to suffer.
Key Issues Raised by Shah Alam & Jakir Hossain:
- Equal Pay for Equal Work: The leaders pointed out that while regular state government teachers receive salaries in accordance with the 7th Pay Commission, SPEMM Madrassa teachers are still struggling with significantly lower honorariums despite performing identical duties.
- Inclusion in Grant-in-Aid: A primary demand remains the inclusion of 129 SPEMM Madrassas under the state’s Grant-in-Aid scheme to ensure permanent financial stability for the staff.
- Service Regularization: General Secretary Jakir Hossain noted that many teachers have served for over 15 years on a contractual basis. They demanded immediate regularization to provide a dignified life for the educators.
- Infrastructure and Vacancies: The association urged the state government to fill vacant teaching posts in rural Madrassas and provide modern sports and laboratory equipment to ensure students are not left behind in the digital age.
Call for Government Intervention
The leadership expressed disappointment that, despite several deputations to the Directorate of Elementary Education, a permanent solution has yet to be reached.
“We are not just teachers; we are the foundation of our community’s progress. On this day, as we bid farewell to our senior colleagues, we also renew our pledge to fight for our rights. We urge Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha to look into our 7-point charter of demands and bring us under the state’s regular pay fold,” Vice-President Shah Alam stated.
The association announced that if the upcoming state budget does not address their grievances, they will be forced to launch a state-wide democratic movement involving all Madrassa educators. The press conference concluded with a call for unity among all teachers to ensure a “fair and equitable” future for the Madrassa education system in Tripura.
