Mainstreaming approved, but salary funding structure unchanged, says CS
Morung Express News
Kohima | February 27
With no positive response from the authorities, the Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association (NGTA) has announced an intensification of its ongoing protest. The agitating 2010 and 2013 batches will hold a fresh demonstration on March 2 at Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima.
The NGTA members have been staging a protest outside the Directorate of School Education, Kohima since February 26. Their primary demand is the inclusion of their salary components into the State Non-Development Expenditure.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen was held on February 26 to deliberate on the issue of salary placement for NGTA.
Among those present were the Commissioner & Secretary, School Education, along with departmental officers, Mission Director of Samagra Shiksha, Director of School Education, an OSD from Finance Department, and representatives from Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF).
As per the meeting minutes, representatives from NSF and ENSF expressed concern over the adverse impact of the teachers’ agitation on classroom learning and students’ academic progress. The federations urged the government to resolve the matter at the earliest in the interest of the student community.
The Department of School Education provided the background on the appointments, explaining that the agitating teachers were originally recruited under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) SSA and RMSA against posts created specifically for those programmes. In 2022, following due clearance from the Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department and the Finance Department, and with Cabinet approval on April 21, 2022, the teachers were mainstreamed into the State cadre.
Officials highlighted that these mainstreamed teachers are educationally and professionally qualified and are currently enjoying the benefits of the 7th Revision of Pay (ROP), including scale pay and other entitlements, similar to other regular State Government employees. They are also governed by standing government instructions applicable to regular employees. The department further stated that the government is making efforts to ensure timely release of salaries.
The Finance Department also clarified that although a significant portion of the salary expenditure is borne by the State Government, a part continues to be supported by the Government of India under Samagra Shiksha. In 2024–25, this central support amounted to approximately Rs 78 crore. He explained that delays in salary disbursement during the initial months of 2025–26 were due to the introduction of the new financial transaction system, SNA SPARSH, by the GoI and related technical issues during its adoption. However, he noted that salaries have since been released regularly.
The Finance Department also cautioned that if the entire salary component were shifted to the Non-Plan head of the State Budget, the State would lose its eligibility to claim the Government of India’s share estimated at around Rs. 80 crore annually which would place a substantial burden on the State exchequer.
After detailed deliberations, the Chief Secretary observed that since the State Cabinet had already approved the mainstreaming of the SSA 2010 and RMSA 2013 batches, the teachers are entitled to benefits applicable to regular State Government employees.
However, he stated that as long as the Samagra Shiksha/CSS framework continues to provide the central share of salary, the salary component of these mainstreamed teachers will not be fully placed under the Non-Plan head of the State Budget.
At the same time, the State Government will take all necessary measures to ensure regular payment of salaries.
