Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep: 30: The spokesperson for All Nagaland Ad hoc Teachers’ Group (ANATG) 2015 batch, Bendangtemsu Ozukum has said that the Nagaland government has failed to deliver on its promise to regularisation their contracts.
Ozukum told Eastern Mirror on Sunday, “During the ANATG’s agitation in June 2018, the government gave a verbal assurance that they will regularise our service once the court passes its judgment. The court passed the judgment on August 3 but they are now saying that it was ambiguous and that they cannot regularise our contract as it will go against the law.”
He further mentioned that on Sep. 26, the ANATG-2015 batch had a meeting with the School Education department headed by its advisor. Ozukum revealed that the department informed them about the Cabinet meeting to be held on Sep. 28, during which the issue would be discussed.
‘However, on Sep. 28 at around 5 pm we received information that the Cabinet meeting which was scheduled at 6:30 pm on Friday was deferred until further notice,’ Ozukum added.
“It was learnt that the Cabinet meeting was held at 2 pm on Sep. 29. The ANATG members anticipated with good spirit hoping that the government would deliberate on the demands of the ANATG. However, we were informed, through reliable sources, that nothing about the ANATG issue was discussed during the meeting,” Ozukum informed.
Stating that the department of School Education was always ready to assist them whenever they approach its office, assuring them that they would forward their demand to the Cabinet, Ozukum wondered why nothing has materialised until now.
“We are starting to get doubtful with the questionable nature of the department of School Education,” he said.
The spokesperson expressed dismay that despite so many meetings, discussions, deliberations, and analysis with the government, the latter was not taking any initiative to resolve the long-standing issue.
Ozukum stated that if the government think the ANATG’s demand for regularisation is unlawful and illegal, the state government should inform the teachers about it.
“The incumbents whose services you have utilised for almost a decade and more should not be treated as criminals,” he said.
