Fourth day of picketing of S/DEO offices on May 5, Monday
KOHIMA, MAY 3 (MExN): The Nagaland Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (NSSATA) continued picketing District Education Offices (DEO) across the State for a third day, and has stated that a fourth day of picketing will be on May 5, Monday.
“The NSSATA continue to stand firm on its earlier resolutions. Till date, no approach has been made by the state government and its implementing agencies to negotiate with the aggrieved party on acceptable terms. The aggrieved party have been requested to call off its present stir through certain agencies of the state in some instances with assurances of paying salaries, i.e., of Dec, 2013 to Feb, 2014,” the NSSATA stated in a press release today.
The NSSATA reiterated that the Centre has “already sanctioned and deposited the second installment for the financial year 2013- 2014, which does not cover only from Oct’ 13 to Feb’ 14, but it covers the months of Oct’ 13 to March’ 14. In support of it, it is learnt through RTI that an amount of Rs. 91.8311 Cr has been sanctioned by the central Government against salary component for the financial year 2013-2014 which is sufficient for payment of all dues for twelve months, i.e., from April’13 – March’14.” In light of this, the NSSATA demanded the Nagaland State Government and its implementing agencies to “make the full payment immediately.”
With regard to Finance Department Clarification on release of SSA salaries from the Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Finance Department (Budget), Y. Kikheto Sema, the NSSATA questioned why “comparisons have been made against the state of Nagaland with those of inefficient states of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir with regard to SSA implementation and why not with other successful states?” The NSSATA informed that in Jammu & Kashmir, the RTE Act is not yet implemented.
“Further citing about the net loss of Power and NST Department and the difficulties faced by the state to pay its employees has no connection when it comes to payment of salaries to the SSA employees as the centre has already done the needful,” noted the NSSATA.
In light of all the above, the NSSATA has decided to stage a fourth day of picketing of SDEO offices on Monday, May 5.
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Secy to Finance Department (Budget) clarifies on SSA salaries
KOHIMA, MAY 3 (MExN): Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Finance Department (Budget), Y. Kikheto Sema (IAS), has informed that a deposit of Rs. 23 Crore by the State Mission Authority of the SSA to the Nagaland State Government account was made recently and as per the Drawing and Disbursing Officer-wise sub-allocation submitted by the School Education Department, the Finance Department has issued directions to the Treasuries vide Order No. BUD/11-31/2011-12 dated May 1, May 2014 to honor the salaries of the Teachers under SSA for 3 months i.e. with effect from December 2013 to February 2014.
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Resume classes given ‘time bound assurance’: NSF
KOHIMA, MAY 3 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), while reiterating the earlier stance of the Federation in supporting the cause of the NSSATA for non-payment of salary, has once again appealed to the department concerned to “give time-pound assurance to the SSA teachers” and asked them to resume normal classes at the earliest.
In a press release from its general secretary Esther Rhakho and secretary education Bangdi Chawang, the NSF informed that its officials have met the department in concern and SSA officials on many occasions urging them to “press upon the Ministry of Human Resource Department to release the money at the earliest.”
The NSF has also appealed to the NSSATA to resume their normal classes in the interest of the students should the department give a “time-bound assurance” for the release of their salaries. “However till date nothing has been materialized and it is the innocent students who are being made to bear the brunt of this impasse,” noted the NSF.
The Federation has learnt that the further stated that, “It has been learnt that the MHRD has already released the money, therefore NSF once again urge upon the department and the government to release the salary by 1st week of May as the innocent students are victims of this undesirable episode.”
In addition, the NSF asked the NSSATA to be “cautious and sensible” while “expressing your resentment or fighting for your legitimate rights, more so being an employee serving under government rules and undertakings.”
