Dimapur, November 2: The All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) has appealed to the Chief Minister, who is also the president of Nagaland Education Mission Society, for regular payment of salary of the teachers.
In a representation to the CM on Wednesday, ANSTA president Ponchulo Wanth and general secretary Visato Koso noted that non-release of regular salary to the teachers has become a “regular problem” in the department and has proved counter-productive in the teaching-learning process leading to poor and nil results in many government schools. The association therefore urged his authority to make every possible effort to make timely payment of teachers’ salary.
On non-release of salary to about 2600 SSA and 1379 Hindi teachers, the association said many a time the “deliberate negligence” on the part of the government in addressing the genuine grievances of teaching fraternity compel them to take the path of confrontation while students are made to bear the brunt of protest.
Stating that the teachers, be it CSS teachers or others, have been appointed as per the requirement of State Government, the association said the hope/aspiration/moral of many teachers have now been reduced to the “lowest” owing to non-regular payment of salary. The ANSTA, in order to resolve the problem of pending salaries of the CSS teachers, made five suggestions to the government for due consideration. It suggested that the utilisation certificate of the scheme be submitted in time, State matching share be remitted in due time, salary component of teachers should not be diverted for other purpose under no circumstances, top priority should be accorded to teachers’ salaries and payment of teachers’ salary from the State resources before funding agency releases fund.
To make these suggestions a reality, the association urged the Minister of School Education to tie up closely with the departments of Finance and Planning besides working hand and glove with president and chairman of Nagaland Education Mission Society - the society looking after the CSS schemes.
The association urged the Chief Minister to accord top priority to the salary component of the teaching community as it has a direct link with the career of thousands of innocent students.
In the case the pending salaries of the teachers are not released early, the association warned that it will be left with no other option but resort to state-wide agitation which may even affect the forthcoming final Board examinations.
