DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 25 (MExN): The All Nagaland Government College Contract Teachers Union (ANGCCTU) has taken umbrage over the tag of ‘backdoor appointees’ directed to around 175 appointments of Assistant Professors under the Higher Education Department against which the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) has filed a Writ Petition in the Guahati High Court, Kohima.
Seeking to clear the ‘misconception’ created against them, the ANGCCTU president Dr. Seyiezolie Khoubve in a rejoinder directed to the Forum stated that the term labeled upon them as ‘backdoor appointees’ is “downright hurtful, demeaning and far from factual.”
It contented that at one point of time their appointments were for tenures of one year or six months on fixed pay basis which is very meagre and amounts to “less than the salary of a college office peon or chowkidar with a curt statement that our services can be terminated at any point of time.”
It further went on to state that they were also required to apply for extension of services after the expiry of these short periods, adding that these requests for extensions were very often granted after substantial delay causing much mental and financial hardship.
Also bringing to notice that there are many amongst them who have served under this situation for ten or more years, the Union stated that regardless of what others may think, they are far from enjoying any assumed facilities.
Citing instances, it said despite the meagre salary and the perpetual sense of insecurity, workloads are no less than the regular teachers, services are not only limited to class room teachings and participations in extra-curricular activities, but also involve extension services to the government and the public at par with the regular teaching employees.
