Morung Express News
Kohima | June 8
Nagaland Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy and Principal Secretary, School Education, Menukhol John today appealed the agitating NSSATA to discontinue their protest and resume their duties.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Toy appealed the teachers to remember their responsibilities to the children. “I had assured them personally and even through the media I assure them that their grievances are being looked into. We are being as fast as possible. Despite the agitation we are working. We request them to stand down their agitation and not hold our children’s future to ransom,” he said.
“But if they still insist to go on agitation then we will have to take action as per the laid down procedures under existing laws. We as a government cannot compromise the future of our children,” the Chief Secretary added.
Principal Secretary, Menukhol John meanwhile said that the government “understands their frustrations,” and assured that it is “actively considering all their demands.” John admitted that the release of the teachers’ salaries “have been a little erratic in the past.” He however assured that the government has tried its best to address this issue.
“Just trust us,” he stated, urging teachers to continue their work while trusting the government to look into their demands.
On the NSSATA’s demands for release of salaries with 7th ROP benefits, John stated that the department has agreed in principle to extend the said benefits to the teachers. “But there are still certain formalities to be followed,” he informed. Regarding demand for transfer of salaries from Plan to Non Plan, the Principal Secretary said that at present there is not much difference between the two. “It has been our stance, whether one is paid through plan or non plan, it does not make any difference. The only critical issue here is that the salary should be paid on time. We have to work out a mechanism to see they get their salaries released on time.”
‘No Magic Formula’
He however urged teachers to understand that this cannot be done overnight and that there is no “magic formula” to solve the problem, considering the state’s financial burdens.
The Chief Secretary meanwhile added that “today the term plan and non plan does not exist in government. It is not for any association or group of government employees to tell the government to demand salary from this fund or that fund.”
He said that in government, “things do not happen automatically, procedures have to be followed, clearances have to be obtained and then calculations have to be made. Which is why though we have agreed in principle, it is going to take time to implement.”
The Principal Secretary expressed the difficulty to provide a time frame suggesting that time frames do not provide a lasting solution but only a “band-aid kind of solution.” Admitting that there is “trust deficit” between the teachers and the government, he said if “I give a time frame and I don’t keep my word, then the trust deficit continues.”
The Chief Secretary meanwhile stated that “if there are shortcomings from the part of the government, we were the first to admit that ‘Yes we were wrong’.”
“We will take corrective measures. But just because a certain section of government is demanding does not mean that all demands are justified. Even if they go on agitation, the stand of the government is not going to change. We have made our commitment, our commitment stands. It is only a matter of time; it is not that we are delaying. There are certain preparations that have to be made,” he added.
Govt admits to shortcomings on appointment controversy
On the controversy surrounding appointment of the NSSATA 2010 and 2013 batch, where teachers were appointed on regular basis according to the advertisement, John stated that the “miscommunication” came about because the advertisements and recruitment order were not issued by the Mission as it happens in most other departments.
“But in this case, it was done by the department. They do have a point in saying that they were appointed on regular basis. But the funding continues to be from the Mission.”
The Chief Secretary also admitted that there have been shortcomings on the part of the government because they were supposed to be appointed against the program. “But at that point of time, out of oversight or whatever reasons, the appointments that were given in the form of any regular appointment. Though the intent of the government was as per the program guidelines, the manner in which the appointments were made was not proper. So now we are struggling to find out a solution to this,” he said.
NSSATA to continue protest
Meanwhile, on the third day of their third phase agitation, the NSSATA 2010 and 2013 batch shifted their venue to the Secretariat on Friday. Teachers sat on the road towards the Secretariat complex with placards. Despite the heavy security, the protest continued to be peaceful. Members informed that the agitation will continue on Monday outside the Secretariat until the government provides a written assurance under a specific time frame.
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