Agitating teachers hold on; government calls for dialogue

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 20 (EMN): Braving heat and rain, the sit-in protest of the All Nagaland Ad-hoc Teachers’ Group (ANATG) batch of 2015 entered its third day on Wednesday. The members sat at the directorate of School Education today with most of them displaying banners and placards.

The placards they held up read out their frustration and grievances: “All norms fulfilled, fulfil our sole demand”; “Teachers are called nation builders but now we cannot even build our own home with INR 6600 and INR 8400”; “We work to make a living, we teach to make a difference. Respect our rights”;“We cannot survive on excused”; “We demand equal pay for equal work”; “Do justice to us as we do justice to our students,” and so on.

On June 18, 1166 ad-hoc teachers had converged for an indefinite sit-protest at the directorate in Kohima demanding regularization of their services. All the 1166 teachers reportedly have qualified in the suitability test that was conducted on May 20 2017.

Even as the teachers continue their peaceful sit-in protest for the third day but with no response from either the department or the government, the ANATG’s President Rüguotsolie has said that the teachers will continue with their agitation till their demand is met.

In the meantime, Principal Secretary Menukol John has convened a joint meeting of the Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation, Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland, and the ANATG president on June 21 at 3:00 pm in the Secretariat’s conference hall.

A circular calling for a joint meeting stated: ‘There appears to be some communication gap on the interpretation of the honourable high court’s order dated 25.7.2017, in respect of W.P. (C) No. 145 (K) / 2017. In this regard, to clear the doubts, a joint meeting is being convened.’