Dimapur, April 17 (EMN): Lecturers of Khelhoshe Polytechnic of Atoizu in Zunheboto have informed that they have decided to call-off their agitations–which was in protest of the authorities not paying them salary–“even though there was no positive response from the government authority till date...”
A press release from the agitators in concern on Wednesday stated that they consider the career of the students of the institution.
“The Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu fixed pay lecturers, assistant lecturers and demonstrators have decided to call-off the protest to abstain from conducting the practical examination due to non-payment of 6 months’ salary from October 2016 till date, even though there was no positive response from the government authority till date, keeping in mind the career of the students at stake,” the press release stated.
“However, the decision to abstain from performing the duty was made because even though many requests had been made to the government regarding the non-payment of salaries both verbally and in written but there was no positive response due to which the members were compelled to serve an ultimatum dated 30th March 2017, to not declare the Progressive Assessment on 12th April 2017.”
Despite the “unsatisfactory response”, the press release stated, the faculty “proceeded with the declaration” of the Progressive Assessment keeping in mind the career of the students.
“Another ultimatum dated 13th April 2017 was served stating that the faculties will refrain from performing any upcoming examination duty until the department disburse the pending salaries on or before 24th April 2017,” the press release stated.
The members of the faculty informed to have met with the director of Technical Education “personally” to appraise him of their grievances on the 13th of April “for which the director gave a verbal assurance that the salaries will be paid regularly from the month of March 2017, but fail to fulfill the verbal assurance given and there is no positive response till date.”
The lecturers stated that serving without pay for such long months at out posts is “really miserable.” They are said to have “really taken aback” by the response of some government officials. Instead of sympathizing with “their helpless case in times of desperation,” the press release stated, the “response was even more discouraging for the faculties to carry out their duties and responsibilities without any payment of salary in such a remote location.”
The lecturers have requested the authorities to consider their problems and to take up the matter with utmost urgency “with professional ethics.”
