Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association announces 2-day pen-down strike over salary funding issue

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association (NGTA), comprising the erstwhile SSA and RMSA 2010 and 2013 batches, has announced a two-day pen-down strike from February 24 to the 25th.

In a press release issued on Monday, the association stated that the strike was in response to the failure of a seven-day ultimatum served to the Directorate of School Education (DoSE).

The NGTA added that its members, numbering 2,293, were formally mainstreamed into the State Education Cadre vide an order issued on September 2, 2022, with effect from April 21, 2022, pursuant to Cabinet approval conveyed on April 21, 2022.

Related: Nagaland teachers issue ultimatum over salary exclusion in non-plan budget

However, it stated that even after more than three years since the mainstreaming process, their salaries continue to be drawn under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) funding pattern instead of the appropriate State Account Head applicable on a par with other regular State Cadre employees under the School Education department.

According to the association, it had submitted several representations and appeals over the years seeking inclusion of their salary component in the State Non-Plan Budget on par with other regular state employees. It stated that despite repeated appeals, no concrete response was received from the department.

Also read: After 13-day protest, ANATG submits charter of demands to Nagaland government

The NGTA further informed that on February 16, it had served a final seven-day ultimatum addressed to the principal director of School Education, demanding that their “legitimate demand” be addressed within the stipulated time. The association claimed that no action was taken during the ultimatum period.

Alleging what it described as a “lackadaisical nature” on the part of the department, the association stated that it had been compelled to resort to a two-day pen-down strike from February 24 to 25.