ANATG escalates protest in Nagaland as ad hoc teachers begin indefinite hunger strike demanding immediate service regularisation resolution.
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KOHIMA — The All Nagaland Ad hoc Teachers’ Group (ANATG), 2015 batch, escalated its agitation on Wednesday by commencing an indefinite hunger strike outside the Capital Convention Centre in Kohima, on the seventh day of its protest over delay in service regularisation.
The hunger strike began around 12 noon, with 15 male volunteer members participating. The group said all the hunger strikers would remain on fast for as long as they can and that, unlike in 2018 and 2022, there would be no replacements this time.
It added that the volunteers would depend only on drinking water and would not take juice supplements.
Related: Nagaland ad hoc teachers to begin hunger strike from February 11 after ‘no response’ from government
The ANATG had started a sit-in at Naga Solidarity Park on February 4, demanding immediate regularisation of services.
For the hunger strike, the group said it sought permission to use a venue in Secretariat area but was denied, with the administration citing the “ugly incident” of February 6 as the reason.
Responding to the government’s statement on missing documents, the ANATG media cell clarified that all required documents had been submitted in 2024.
It said that during the summer break, a central team of teachers had stayed in Kohima for nearly three weeks, compiled the relevant papers and submitted them to the School Education department, which had certified them.
The group said it could not explain why the government was now referring to missing documents, as this was beyond its purview.
The ANATG also said the seven-point charter of demands highlighted by the government (or the DIPR) was made on February 4, but that subsequent developments had not been fully communicated.
It stated that the government had not referred to the demands it raised on February 6, when it called for immediate service regularisation.
“It is little disheartening to say this, not very comfortable either, but the government or the DIPR for the matter are misleading and not giving out the full updates and details of all the events that have come so far,” the group said.
The ANATG reiterated that regardless of any measures taken by the district administration or the government, it would continue with the indefinite hunger strike.