DIMAPUR, MARCH 1 (MExN): While the past month has been dominated by the turmoil over the ULB poll issue, the ensuing violence and its effect on the government and the state’s political leadership, the dour plight of teachers appointed under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in Nagaland continues.
The Nagaland RMSA Teachers Association (NRMSATA) and the All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Union (ANHTU) today issued statements to remind the government and the new Chief Minister of the same.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu, the NRMSATA stated that the salary issue for the CSS employees under RMSA, SSA, Hindi teachers etc “blatantly speaks about the irresponsible attitude of the state government in solving the problem.”
It reminded that the associations have been raising their voices every now and again so far as regularization of salary is concerned.
“It is not at all encouraging to always engross ourselves in paper wars at regular interval. It’s a new year, a new beginning, a new academic session; therefore, from the early start itself, let us try not to whistle past on someone’s graveyard and spoil the whole show of the year. Allow the teaching community to have a joyful and prosperous year by putting to an end to this particular issue once and for all,” the NRMSATA appealed to the CM.
The association asked the CM to confront the fact that the regular delay in salaries for CSS teachers “is not because of the Central Government.” It rather alleged that the Nagaland State Government is responsible for “creating the obstacles.”
It said that when the MHRD, Government of India “sanctions its 90% share as salary component to the state exchequer, similarly the state government is expected to give 10% of its due share.”
The association however lamented that the Nagaland State Government “always procrastinates to give its share on time; thus the delay of salary begins.” “Because, until and unless the state government gives its due matching share, the concerned department will not be in a position to prepare the utilization certificate (UC), meaning to say, the RMSA, SSA officials have to show proof to the MHRD (GoI) that they have utilized the already sanctioned amount and are ready for the next installment, which is a mass of documents in order to receive the next stipends,” it informed.
The association further slammed the “lackadaisical attitude of state government,” who it claimed “never bothers to comply with the guidelines and procedure laid down by the MHRD (GoI),” and termed this as the “main hindrance for frequent delay of salary.” While acknowledging that various new measures and policies have been adopted in order to improve the teaching learning process, it however cautioned that unless the salary problem is solved “there is less chance that the government run institutes will bear much fruits as expected.”
“We are seriously fed up of requesting and demanding for the release of our salary. As once said by Napoleon Bonaparte: ‘An army marches on its stomach.’ An army here is no different with that of the teachers like us. No matter what, the basic need of an individual plays a vital role in any establishment,” it stated.
It reminded that when the CSS programme was freshly introduced, there was continuous free flow payment of salary and delays if any were for only a month or two as the fund was directly accounted to the concerned sections/departments by the MHRD Accounts (GOI).
It however claimed that the prolonged delay in salaries now is due to the “state government diverting the funding process to the Finance and Planning department etc. where the fund for CSS employees are kept in the Government Civil Deposit to maintain the minimum balance in the state exchequer.”
The association strongly objected to this diversion of fund “just to serve their interest depriving the masses and RMSA, SSA employees in particular,” and questioned the state government’s “indifference” to CSS employees.
In this regard, the NRMSATA stated that there are two options: either, to retract the funding process from the Finance Department so that RMSA, SSA teachers directly receive the sanctioned amount from the MHRD (GOI); or the state government should give its due matching 10% share on time.
“Similarly, we as teachers will whole heartedly dedicate ourselves in facilitating the career of the students without any reserve or disturbances,” it assured.
The NRMSATA expressed hope that the CM would work towards finding an early solution to this problem without further delay.
ANHTU extends deadline for release of salaries
Meanwhile, the All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Union (ANHTU) today informed that it has decided to extend the deadline for release of salaries to CSS Hindi teachers till March 7.
In a press note, the ANHTU reminded that it had served an ultimatum to the Director, Directorate of School Education to release the nine month worth of salaries by February 10. The department is yet to do so.
With the extended deadline, the ANHTU cautioned that if the department fails to fulfill its demands, the union would start a phase wise agitation along with the 1379 CSS Hindi teachers. It therefore advised all district CSS Hindi teachers representatives to “prepare for phase wise agitation.”
