NGTA of 2010 and 2013 batches launched its indefinite strike outside the Directorate of School Education, Kohima on February 26. (Morung Photo)
Launches indefinite protest outside DoSE
Morung Express News
Kohima | February 26
Days after the All Nagaland Adhoc Teachers Group (ANATG) 2015 batch has temporarily kept their protest on hold; another group of teachers under the banner of the Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association (NGTA) of 2010 and 2013 batches launched its indefinite strike on February 26 outside the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) in Kohima.
Numbering to 2293 members, the NGTA is demanding inclusion of its salary components into the state non-plan expenditure.
Following the expiry of its ultimatum on February 23, the NGTA undertook a pen-down strike on February 24 and 25. With no positive outcome from the government, it has launched its indefinite protest on February 26.
The teachers were holding placards which read “mainstream on paper-still paid on CSS. Stop this tyranny,” “2293 voices, one demand-State Non-Plan budget for every hand,” ‘irregular salary, unbearable agony-end this tyranny” and more.
According to some documents of the Cabinet meeting on October 3, 2018 shared by the NGTA, it stated, “as per the decision taken in the Cabinet meeting held on September 9, 2018 decided ‘in principle’ to bring the teachers of all the 2010 and 2013 batches of SSA & RMSA into the mainstream of the School Education cadre with a condition that all the schools will be linked with biometric attendance and Aadhar number of all teachers will be linked to the same which has also been decided by the Cabinet on March 8, 2018.”
Subsequently, on April 21, 2022, the Cabinet in its meeting has approved the proposal for mainstreaming of SSA & RMSA teachers (2010 & 2013) batches into School Education cadres.
Following which, the school education department in a notification on September 2022 has notified the mainstreaming of 2290 educationally and professionally qualified teachers as per NCTE norms appointed under erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) of 2010 and 2013 batches into the State Education Cadre w.e.f. April 21, 2022.
The notification further stated that the seniority of the 2010 SSA batch and 2013 SSA & RMSA batches shall be parked immediately below the teachers already appointed on regular basis or whose service have regularised, and the inter-se seniority of the mainstreamed teachers will be as per P&ARs clearance.
Peihau Zeliang, NGTA president highlighting in brief the chronology said, despite being mainstreamed into the state education cadre, funding is being done through CSS adding, “as state education cadre, we should be funded through state non-plan budget.”
Another member Alemkala said it has been fighting for several years to be treated on par with other state cadre, which is salary component to be shifted to the state non-plan head. She added that it has submitted several representations over the years, and an ultimatum which expired three days back.
They have stated that it will continue with its democratic form of protest till its demand is met. Meanwhile, it was learnt that members of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF), department officials and finance department officials have been in a meeting for this issue.
NGTA announces second day of protest on Feb 27
Meanwhile, according to an NGTA media cell, the turnout for the protest exceeded 1500 members. The association noted the participation of lactating mothers and individuals with ailments, stating they felt the cause was genuine and joined the fight for their rights. The NGTA emphasised that the protest concluded peacefully without any untoward incidents.
The association also acknowledged the District Administration and the Police Department for maintaining law and order, which it said contributed to the success of the democratic protest.
However, stating that no positive response had been received from the department, the NGTA announced the second day of the first phase of its protest on February 27, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The association has vowed to continue the peaceful protest until their demand is met.
