KOHIMA, APRIL 23 (MExN): The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has written to the Governor of Nagaland today drawing his attention to, and immediate intervention on, the case of the Nagaland SSA Teachers’ Association (NSSATA).
Referring to the issue of non-payment of salaries by the Department of School Education to the SSA teachers, the NMA stated that “Transparency and accountability of public funds must be maintained which also includes regular and timely submission of Utilization Certificates to the concerned Ministry for timely sanction of funds for the salary of teachers working under the SSA program.”
The NMA found “highly questionable” that there is “Discrimination in payment of salaries to these SSA teachers till date.” “It has been confirmed from sources that there has been payment of salaries to SSA teachers from two districts of Mon and Tuensang, while the rest of the teachers in the other districts have been forced to go on a strike as well as serve an ultimatum to the State Government for non-payment of their salaries,” informed the Association. Such “biased discrimination,” it stated, is “unwarranted and deplorable, in matters of service,” and demanded “immediate inquiry into this serious case of discrimination which is an indication that the Government does have the funds to pay salaries of the SSA teachers.”
Furthermore, the NMA has learnt that adequate funds were received for salaries till December; “so why was there a delay in payments, which had led to unnecessary closure of schools. Is the Government/Department encouraging such strikes and harassment of both teachers and students at the same time?” It alerted that the “silence of the School Education Minister is deafening in the midst of such continuing irregularities and we hope our grievance is conveyed in the strongest terms.”
In the interest of the service of the SSA teachers as well as thousands of school children, the NMA has urged the Government to “bring out a clear policy in matters of service of teachers serving under the SSA program, which should be in accordance with laid down policies and guidelines of the Central Government and the concerned Ministry and also ensure protection of their services.”
