(Morung File Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | March 2
The protest by Nagaland Government Teachers Association (NGTA) of 2010 and 2013 batches demanding inclusion of their salary components into State Non-Plan, entered its third day on Monday outside the Directorate of School Education (DoSE).
The association was not allowed to hold its protest at Naga Solidarity Park on Sunday evening due to ‘security concerns’ related to the ongoing assembly session, prompting the group to cancel its planned agitation.
With no resolution to the ongoing impasse between the teachers and the government, NGTA has decided to continue its protest outside the DoSE office.
Meanwhile, Advisor for School Education, Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, addressing the media on the ongoing agitation by RMSA 2010 and 2013 batches, and recent protest by ANATG 2015 batch, said both groups have declared that their agitation will continue until their demands are met.
Speaking to media after the assembly session, Yhome explained that the Department of School Education comprises four categories of workforce - regular employees on State payroll; adhoc teachers including ANATG group who have been given scale pay; contract teachers under Central schemes, which includes most members of NGTA; and contingency or fixed-pay employees, mostly in Grade IV posts.
The Advisor maintained that contingency staffs receive fixed pay under minimum wage norms, ranging from Rs 5200 to Rs 6200, yet they are not protesting despite financial hardship. He reiterated that while the system is not entirely wrong, the design of human resource management in the department was technically flawed in the past due to the absence of data-driven governance.
Yhome acknowledged that many demands of the teachers are reasonable, while some are not. Recalling his meeting with the ANATG at Naga Solidarity Park, he said there were communication gaps and that he empathised with their frustration. “It is my responsibility to defend and care for my teachers,” he said, but stressed, ‘all decisions must follow the rule of law.’
The Advisor informed that 5069 teachers were earlier appointed under SSA and RMSA through departmental recruitment before the formation of Nagaland Staff Selection Board and Nagaland Public Service Commission, and some appointments were made without advertisement.
While the present RMSA-SSA group is demanding that their salaries be shifted to the State Plan, Yhome termed this a “policy matter” that falls under the prerogative of the government, cautioning that converting scheme-based salaries into State liabilities would have serious financial repercussions.
On their demands, the Advisor said, “Their demands are impossible. And I can assure you very well that a lot has been taken care of for them, and what they are asking is something out of the blue.”
Yhome asserted that it would require a political decision with the concurrence of the government. “And we may have to do something, which I can assure, will go against them, because what they're asking for is impossible. They have literally put a gun against the department and saying, we will not retract if we don't do this,” he added.
On ANATG group, he said 2483 teachers were appointed without formal advertisement and later regularised by a Cabinet decision led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, despite the constraints citing the State of Karnataka vs Uma Devi judgment, which bars regularisation of backdoor appointees after 2006. Out of 2483 teachers, only 1119 are currently part of the agitation, and 235 have submitted documents for verification, with 100 already cleared by P&AR, he said.
Document verification, including mark sheets and appointment orders, is mandatory, and fake certificates will invite termination and recovery of salary while adding that refusal to undergo Suitability Tests would go against court orders, the advisor said.
Highlighting the financial burden, Yhome said ANATG group alone currently receives Rs 72.83 crore annually, and the long-term implication would rise significantly over time. Over the past five years, the School Education expenditure stood at Rs 9426.93 crore with only 0.48% spent on capital infrastructure, while most funds went to salaries.
The Advisor admitted to past irregularities, including the appointment of over 1500 Hindi teachers trained under the State's own institute, which was not recognised by the Centre. However, he informed that 300 teachers have since completed a bridge course to secure recognition, stating that ‘departmental audits and examinations would be conducted to ensure competency.’
Regarding RMSA, he said financial implications for last year’s protesting group would amount to Rs 313 crore until retirement while the present 2010 and 2013 batches are yet to be fully assessed. He added that with Samagra Shiksha 2.0 ending on March 31 and a new framework expected the State must wait for clarity from Ministry of Education before taking financial decisions.
Yhome clarified that appointment orders clearly state that scheme-based teachers are temporary and subject to Central funding, which comes in four instalments. While the Centre initially funded 100% of salaries, the State now bears around 54–56% of the cost.
Meanwhile, the Advisor said absenteeism during agitation has affected hundreds of schools, and the department may invoke “No Work, No Pay” provisions if teachers fail to resume duty. Children, especially from vulnerable backgrounds are suffering due to the protests, he added.
“Unlike other departments, roster system technically is impracticable with School Education system. The entire teacher has to enter the classroom every day. So there can be no rooster system as far as full education is concerned,” he said. “It is our job to take care of our teachers, but all decisions must follow due process of law,” he reiterated and added that the government will comply fully with Supreme Court directions and act in accordance with legal procedures.
