The Nagaland Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (NSSATA) 2010, 2013 batch has decided to continue their ongoing third phase agitation in all the districts of the state till they get a positive response from the state government to their long-pending demands. The association comprising 2000 members launched their third phase of protests on June 6 by staging sit-in demonstrations in front of the directorate of school education and the secretariat in Kohima.
The association demanded that their demands be fast-tracked to avert any further stir.
The teachers began their first phase of agitation with pen down strike from May 2 to 10 followed by boycott of classes from May 11 to 25.
Resenting the state government’s “apathetic attitude” of trying to wash its hands off regarding appointments of SSA teachers, the NSSATA reiterated that their fight was based on government’s credentials and not beyond democratic norms as alleged by the government.
The NSSATA has been demanding 7th revision of pay (RoP), release of pending salary with RoP from January to March and transfer of their salary to non-plan head.
It explained that agitating SSA teachers were appointed during 2010 and 2013 as regular employees after advertisements for open recruitment. In the appointment orders, it was clearly mentioned that the SSA teachers were endowed with “scale pay with all allowances/rates prescribed by the government of Nagaland from time to time with effect from the date of joining”, the association pointed out while stating that the government orders also clearly described the appointees as “Regular State Teachers.”
Further, an RTI reply in October 2013 pointed out that post creation was not done under Sarba Siksha Abhiyan scheme but by the government undertaking. The association said and added that therefore, the SSA teachers were appointed on regular basis and that their services are not co-terminus with SSA project as stated by the government.
The association clarified that their demands were based on the appointment terms and all other benefits of regular employees. It said imputing its demand with irregularities of centrally-sponsored flagship programme will not solve the problem.
Admitting that the agitation was seriously affecting the career of students, the teachers, however, said when they were “physically and morally disturbed” because of their uncertain future, there was no way for them to carry out their duties even if classes were held. The association also urged the government not to blame the agitating teachers alone for hampering the education system but should also admit its discrimination of teachers.