Peren, October 16 (MExN): The Peren, Zunheboto, and Dimapur units of Nagaland Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (NSSATA) have affirmed to support and execute the central NSSATA’s decision to boycott classes from October 17 as part of its first phase of statewide agitation over nonpayment of salary. The SSA teachers have not been paid their salary for five months.
A press release from Huzengluibo, president and Kelidau, general secretary of NSSATA Peren unit stated that the announcement to support the decision comes following the expiry of the association’s seven-day ultimatum served to the State Government and the Government’ failure to respond to the four-point charter demands of NSSATA. The NSSATA Peren unit has called upon all its members to co-operate with the decision. In the ensuing agitation, more than 15 schools will be totally shut down in Peren district alone, the release added. Meanwhile, the unit urged the State Government to solve the pending salary issue immediately without further delay.
In a separate press statement, NSSATA Zunheboto unit informed all the SSA teachers appointed during 2010 and 2013 under Zunheboto district to extend support to the agitation in full spirit till their demands are fulfilled. The statement from Vinoka, president, Aboto, secretary, Tovito, secretary of NSSATA Zunheboto unit lamented that teachers are “being blamed and put into untold pain and suffering at the expense of few undedicated one.” It further pointed out that SSA teachers and other teachers appointed under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) have been “suffering and suffered enough under the shadow of false promises and irresponsible government over the past three and four years who never understand the miseries teachers had endured.”
Meanwhile, the NSSATA Zunheboto unit appealed and asked the department concerned and Government to stop giving excuses but act promptly at the genuine demands of the “future builders”. Reminding its members to remain united and be physically and mentally prepared to “encounter any challenges of short sighted threat,” the unit also appealed to NGOs, church association, students’ union to continuously extend their support both in faith and action.
NSSATA Dimapur unit also requested School Management Committees (SMCs), Village Education Committees (VECs), students' unions, GB unions, tribal bodies, NGOs and all the right thinking citizens of Dimapur in particular and Nagaland as a whole to co-operate and support “our rightful cause”. In a press statement, the unit pointed out that the SSA teachers were selected after written test and interview as per the norms set by the State government and they were appointed as regular State government employees. “However even after being selected as regular State government employees, the teachers have been suffering since last more than three years due to irregular payment of salary,” it lamented. “The government is very serious to improve the educational standard of government schools in Nagaland. Making new rules and reminding teachers of their duty but when it comes to payment of salary, the same seriousness is missing.”
