DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 18 (MExN): The All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) has rejected the down gradation of graduate teachers pay band which is part of the revision of the service rules/cadre review by the education department.
According to a press release issued by ANSTA president, Ponchulo Wangth and general secretary, Visato Koso, the pay band of graduate teachers has been reduced from 9300 to 5200 (which is Rs 4100 less than the existing one) and grade pay from 4200 to 3400 (which is Rs 800 less than the present grade pay).
Terming the slash down of teachers salary as an “insult and humiliation to the teaching community,” the Association rued that it has brought down the morale of teachers to the lowest level which will have its own bearing in the teaching-learning process.
The Association also expressed strong resentment and disagreement with other provisions in the new service rules including (a) the Encadrement of Principal Director post to IAS Cadre (b) Reduction of 19 DEO/Joint Director post to 12 and 253 HM post to 117 (c) Withdrawal of HM & AHM from composite GHSS (d) Classification of SDEO/Assistant Director into Junior and Senior given different grades (e) Discrimination among the employees by giving many privileges to one group of teachers while side lining the other groups.
While reiterating that revision of service rules/cadres review in the department comes only after a gap of many years and the main purpose of revision is to improve/upgrade the existing system, the Association lamented that as far as the present notification is concerned, it has reduced/downgraded the existing one instead of improvising it.
In this connection, the Association has urged upon the concerned authority to review the defective provisions of the rules with immediate effect. It said it will adversely affect the employees of the concerned sections if it is implemented in its present form.
An executive meeting to deliberate on this move of the department was held on December 15, 2017 wherein the house unanimously resolved to appraise the government to rectify the discrepancies in the service rules within a month.
The Association cautioned that it would be left with no other option but resort to state-wide agitation which may even disturb the forth coming HSLC & HSSLC Exams scheduled from March 5, 2018 onwards if their demands were not met.
For this the Association has reminded all its members across the state to be “mentally, physically prepared for any eventuality” as another phase of agitation against the indifferent attitude of government towards teaching community appears imminent.
.JPG)
