Kohima, July 18 (MExN): The Nagaland SSA Teachers’ Association (NSSATA), particularly the SSA teachers of 2010 and 2013 batch numbering around 2600 (both PT/GT), have ‘strongly refuted’ the statement made by Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang that SSA teachers are “bound to be co-terminated along with projects and schemes.”
“The SSA teachers of 2010 and 2013 batch were appointed as regular state government employees and are not co-terminus in any case,” the NSSATA noted today in a press release from its President Aliba Sangtam and General Secretary, Thungchamo Lotha.
Further, by way of justification, they presented a few points. As per advertisements for their jobs in 2009 and 2011 respectively, the word “co-terminus” was not found mentioned in the recruitment norms.
As per their appointment orders, it was “clearly” stated that in the event of discontinuation of SSA programme, “their pay and allowances shall be borne by the state.”
As per a 2013 appointment order, deduction towards pension and other services was also made.
The NSSATA stated that SSA teachers appointed in 2010 and 2013 were recruited “with the approval of” three channels of the State Government, namely the State Cabinet, Personnel & Administrative Reforms and Finance Department, as “regular state employees” through open competitive examination on merit basis. The examination was conducted by SCERT and appointment orders were issued by the Department of School Education (DoSE), Government of Nagaland, “with no interference by SSA Mission Authority.”
Further, during a joint meeting held on May 16 at the Chief Secretary’s conference hall, the Chief Secretary, Finance Commissioner, Commissioner & Secretary School Education, Additional Director (HOD) DoSE, all Additional Directors DoSE, Mission Director SSA, various subordinate officials “acknowledged” that SSA teachers of 2010 & 2013 batch are “regular state government employees.” The DoSE has also included SSA teachers in the seniority list prepared in 2015, it was informed.
Besides, the Minister of School Education & SCERT, Yitachu, during a joint meeting of different associations of teachers under DoSE, held on May 28 at Hotel De-Oriental, “acknowledged the nature of our appointment as at par with the rest of the state teacher employees and are entitled for equal service benefit,” informed the NSSATA. In May 2014, when Banuo Z. Jamir was Chief Secretary and M. Patton was the Commissioner &Secretary School Education, “they also had acknowledged that SSA teachers of 2010 & 2013 batch were regular state employees.”
On the basis of these, the “the question of SSA teachers being co-terminus along with the end of projects and schemes as per the Chief Minister’s statement does not arise in the context of SSA teachers of 2010 & 2013 batch. Thus being among the regular employees of the state government we are also entitled to get our salary regularly,” maintained the NSSATA.
