Morung Express News
Kohima | March 10
The All Nagaland Hindi Teachers Union (ANHTU) held its second phase agitation on March 10 by picketing the DEO and SDEOs across the districts in Nagaland State.
The 1379 Hindi teachers under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) have been working without any salary for 9 months. It may be noted that their first phase agitation, which entailed the teachers wearing black badges, was held on March 8.
The Union had already served an ultimatum to the Department of School Education to release the salaries of the CSS Hindi Teachers by March 7.
“Several rounds of meetings were held this year as well as last year, but we have not received any positive response,” informed Kekhrieneilie Tsikhano, President, ANHTU Kohima Unit expressing that all the teachers are undergoing numerous problems because of non-payment of salaries.
“We are really suffering. We hope that the DEOs and SDEOs will convey our plight to the higher authorities,” said Tsikhano. The Kohima Unit picketed the SDEOs and DEOs in Tseminyu, Chiephobozou and Kohima. The third phase of agitation will be held on March 15 where the teachers will picket the Directorate of School Education at 9:00 am. According to the Convenor CSS Hindi Teacher, Mhonthung Lotha, the teachers decided to hold the silent protest to show resentment against the department for failure to release the pending salary despite several appeals.
The Convenor also demanded that department should release the 9 months worth of salary along with arrear at the earliest and added that salary should be paid on monthly basis, while the teachers should be absorbed by the School Education Department since they will be completing five (5) years of continuous service by March 31, 2017.
MHRD asks Nagaland govt to absorb CSS Hindi teachers
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 10
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has asked the Nagaland Government to take up steps to absorb all the Hindi Teachers appointed through Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) in the State. Nagaland has a total of 1379 CSS Hindi Teachers.
Interacting with a section of media persons here, Minister for School Education and SCERT, Yitachu revealed that despite the Union MHRD directive, the Nagaland government is presently not in a position to do so and therefore he would be leaving for Delhi by next week before the ensuing state budget session and pursue for continuation of the scheme in the State.
“The term of CSS Hindi Teachers will end on March 31 but we will be seeking for extension of CSS Hindi Teachers considering the financial crunch faced by the State,” he said, adding that taking the CSS Hindi Teachers as state government employees is not a problem, but payment of salary will be the main problem.
Nonetheless, he asserted that subsequent steps will be taken to include CSS Hindi Teachers as regular government employees in the State. On the delay in the release of nine months worth salary for CSS Hindi Teachers in the State, the Minister said that there has been short release of fund and the Union MHRD has been pursuing the matter with the Union Finance Ministry by seeking additional requirements.
The Minister assured that the department and the government are trying their best for early release of the pending salaries.
He therefore maintained that even if ANHTU continues with their democratic agitation, they should also try to understand the position of the department. Further, he asked the protestors not to resort to any form of violence and extend cooperation.
