Banner and placards displayed at the protest site of the Nagaland RMSA 2016 teachers’ indefinite sit-in outside the Directorate of School Education in Kohima, September 9. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 9
The Nagaland Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) 2016 teachers’ indefinite sit-in protest outside the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) entered its second day on September 9.
As the teachers converged outside, raising slogans for justice, both parties maintained that they were open to discussions and negotiations. However, till the filing of this report, no such meeting had taken place, with claims and counterclaims emerging from both sides.
On the evening of September 8, the State Mission Director of the Nagaland Education Mission Society, Samagra Shiksha, L Jamithung Lotha, wrote to the RMSA Teachers’ Association appealing to them to call off the ongoing agitation.
Urging the Association to reconsider its decision of September 1, 2025, Lotha appealed for “good sense” to prevail in the greater interest and wellbeing of students. He further noted that the state government had filed a Review Petition on August 14, 2025, and since the matter remains sub-judice, the agitation should be suspended and duties resumed while awaiting the court’s decision.
Principal Director of School Education, Shashank Pratap Singh, also appealed to the Association to call off their protest in the interest of students, while awaiting the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Review Petition.
With students caught in the middle of the stalemate, Lotha said, “We have been talking with them for the last one week or so, but they are not willing to listen.”
“Our hands are tied:” Samagra officials
Officials from the Nagaland Education Mission Society, Samagra Shiksha, explained that when the scheme was launched in 2016, teachers received salaries of around Rs 31,000 per month under a 90:10 funding pattern.
However, following the merger of RMSA, SSA and teacher education into the Samagra Shiksha scheme in 2018, salaries were reduced to Rs 25,000. Since then, central support has been cut by 5% annually, leaving the sanctioned amount at just Rs 18,750 today, an official said.
He added that despite this, the state government continues to pay teachers their original salary of over Rs 31,000 from the state exchequer, with the state’s share rising to nearly 45% from the earlier 10% under the 90:10 pattern.
The official further stated that in one of their meetings, teachers were advised to seek regularisation of their services, which would automatically ensure scale pay. “But as long as they remain under the Nagaland Education Mission Society, a society cannot grant scale or regularisation,” he said.
According to him, there are 467 teachers under the scheme. Of these, around 100 accepted the suggestion, while the remaining 367 took the matter to court and are now agitating.
“Our hands are tied. We sympathise with them, but the matter is still in court. While they agitate, our students are suffering. If they call off the agitation, we can speak on their behalf to the government,” he said.
“The nature of work is similar to that of the state cadre, but their employment is contractual under the Nagaland Education Mission Society. Contractual employment can be terminated at any time,” the official added.
“We understand their problem on humanitarian grounds, but as long as they continue with this non-cooperation with the government, how do we confidently approach the government?” he asked.
“Will continue with our sit-in protest:” RMSA
Meanwhile, the RMSA Teachers’ Association remained firm in its stand to continue the sit-in protest until their demands are met.
RMSA spokesperson Renbemo L Patton alleged that the department was “citing the same old reason” that the matter is sub-judice. He maintained that the court has not granted a stay order and that the Kohima High Court judgment in their favour is still in force.
On the nature of their appointment, Patton acknowledged that the advertisement had mentioned “contract,” but argued that the department had failed to follow MHRD guidelines. He said that according to MHRD guidelines and the 37th Project Approval Board, they should have been appointed as regular teachers with scale pay at par with the state cadre.
“All these issues—the advertisement, appointment order, agreement letter—have already been studied and examined in court. That is why the judgment was passed in our favour. So the question of advertisements does not arise anymore,” he asserted.
Association spokespersons, including president Imlitemjen Imchen, further claimed it was illegal on the part of the government to omit salary details in the advertisement.
They acknowledged that the Nagaland Education Mission Society was the appointing authority but said the posts were created by the government. “The appointment order was served by the Nagaland Education Mission Society with very unacceptable terms and conditions. Before accepting the appointment, we were made to submit an undertaking that we accept the salary of Rs 31, 000,” they said.
“But we have P&AR approval, finance department clearance and Cabinet approval,” the Association maintained, adding that the post creation notification was issued by the Directorate of School Education, not Samagra.
They also said they were open to negotiations but claimed they had not been invited for formal talks. While two rounds of discussions were held with department officials prior to the protest, the Association alleged that no concrete proposal was placed before them.
