Wokha, October 31 (MExN): The Wokha unit of ACAUT Nagaland today extended support to all the SSA and Hindi teachers in their fight against non-payment of salary, while appealing to the government to release all the teachers’ pending salaries at the earliest. In a press statement, ACAUT Wokha unit stated, “The government’s agenda is empowering the youths through better job and employment but when employment is given to them after all those tiresome scrutiny and test instead they are only making them paralyze, non progressive and rebellious in nature by making them go to the extent of saying ‘no pay no work’.” It asserted that the issue is not just about the teachers’ livelihood, “but the empty quality of education that also needs to be viewed and checked thoroughly.” The authorities concerned, the press statement added, are not only harassing the teachers and students alone but also the entire future generation of “our” society. It also requested the government of Nagaland to make necessary arrangement to pay the teachers’ salaries regularly from the state fund and retrieve the said amount on release of fund by centre.
ANGPTA Zunheboto: In a separate statement, All Nagaland Government Primary Teachers' Association (ANGPTA), Zunheboto unit also urged the Department of School Education to end the current imbroglio caused by non-payment of salaries to SSA and Hindi teachers. “The concerned department should find out the ways and means for early solution of this problem as it has inflicted immense hardship to the students who have been attending the school but not been taught properly due to shortage of teachers in the schools all across the state on account of SSA and Hindi teachers agitation,” demanded ANGPTA Zunheboto unit. It maintained that the manner in which the SSA and Hindi teachers “have been left to starve for so long is unjustifiable and unacceptable.” It also expressed pain to see the “poor students” studying in Govt. Primary Schools, Govt. Middle Schools and even High schools across the state “whose career has been drastically affected, specially at this peak time when students are preparing for end term exam...” It requested the department concerned to immediately release the pending salary of SSA and Hindi teachers and also urged the different parties to sit together to chalk out pragmatic solution in order to avoid the recurrence of this kind of problem in the future.
CNTC: The Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) also extended support to the “genuine” demands of the aggrieved teachers (NSSATA/RMSA/Hindi teachers) to release their salaries pending for the last 6 to 9 months. “Teachers under the various central flagship programmes have been suffering greatly and being denied of their basic salary which is a gross violation of human rights,” stated a press release from Media Cell, CNTC. Asserting that the State government cannot keep on giving the usual excuse of “No funds from the centre”, the CNTC further urged the State government to deliver the pending salaries to the aggrieved teachers without delay.
CSU: The Chakhesang Students’ Union also appealed to the authority concerned to immediately look into the ongoing boycotting of classes all over Nagaland by the Nagaland SSA Teachers Association and the All Nagaland Hindi Teachers Association. It expressed sadness that the authority concerned failed to give to the teachers what are rightfully theirs. “It is indeed very saddening to mention that most of the schools, especially in villages were run by the SSA Teachers whereby many schools are being suspended since it cannot continue without the teachers being present.” The union reminded the authority concerned that the academic year is coming to an end but many schools are still without adequate teachers to complete the syllabus. “If this trend of system continues then ‘Quality Education’ will in no way be discussed as a topic anymore,” it added. The union appealed to the competent authority to look into the matter immediately and with all sincerity to avoid such issues in the days to come. While extending support and cooperation to the aggrieved teachers’ bodies, CSU also requested both the associations to reconsider their decision, keeping in mind the future of the students.
NSF writes to Chief Secretary
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 31 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has written to the Nagaland State Chief Secretary seeking action on the non payment of salary to SSA and Hindi teachers under CSS. In its letter, the NSF lamented that the teachers concerned have been working without salary for the past several months despite appeals and representations served to the government and the department concerned. It said that the teaching community are “selflessly rendering their services for quality education and improvement of human resources,” but are not being paid and “made to face untold hardship.” It urged the Chief Secretary to take this matter with utmost seriousness and address the issue at the earliest. The NSF cautioned that failure to do so would compel the federation to take its own course of action.
