Dimapur, Sep. 3 (EMN): The Nagaland RMSA Teachers Association-2016 has said in a statement that the government isn’t paying heed to their cries despite its agitation against the office memorandum (OM) to either accept a reduced pay scale within a month or face termination.
The RMSATA-2016 has been boycotting classes since Aug. 27 after the government announced that the monthly salary of the teachers would be reduced by INR 6315.
“Why we can say with conviction that the OM is by nature irrational, invalid and discriminatory is because of the actual guidelines and official documents from the MHRD where this OM has its basis,” the press release stated.
The association pointed out that in the original draft document of the new scheme stated that “henceforth there will not be any separate SSA and RMSA teachers; salary as per the new scheme will thus be based only on the different sections of the school they teach viz. primary teachers-Rs 15,000, Upper Primary Teachers- Rs 20,000 and Secondary Teachers-Rs 25,000. We the RMSA 2016 Teachers fall under the category of secondary teachers with an amount of Rs 25,000.”
According to the statement given in the document, it said that all the SSA teachers who are predominantly engaged in teaching the primary and upper primary sections will be receiving only INR 15,000 and INR 20,000. However, it stated that the OM was not served to them.
“The memorandum of the dept. itself is also self contradictory as it states that they are following the guidelines of the new scheme fixing the salary of the RMSA at Rs 25,000, very ironically this OM is served only to some 2016 appointed RMSA Teachers, the other teachers of RMSA appointed in the year 2013 and on May 2016 are exempted from this OM.” it alleged
The association also pointed out the Project Approval Board minutes of the SSA, MHRD which stated; “State should meet the balance amount from its own resources including the additional funds devolved under the 14th Finance Commission. As per Section 7(5) of the RTE Act, 2009, the State Government shall after taking into consideration the sum, provided by the Central Government and mandatory matching State share, provide the balance funds necessary to fulfill the estimate for the implementation of the Act.”
It asserted that when the state can meet the additional funds (funds apart from central and state matching share) of SSA and other RMSA teachers, it can in no way take the excuse of fund constrains of the state and discriminate a certain section of its employees who fall under the same scheme.
The Nagaland Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (NSSATA) of the 2010 and 2013 batches had claimed that the NSSATA (2010 and 2013 batches) were appointed as regular employees according to the nature of appointment.
A press statement appended by the president, Penthungo Y Yanthan, and general secretary, Vinoka Sohe of the NSSATA on Monday, stated that according to their appointment orders, the teachers were endowed with a pay scale and other allowances prescribed by the government of Nagaland from time to time with effect from the date of joining.
The association mentioned the RTI reply to Ponchulo Wanth; “post creation as being a government of Nagaland undertaking and not of the SSA. “Hence teachers are appointed on a regular basis and their service is not co-terminus with SSA project.”
Therefore, the association said unlike other SSA and RMSA contractual and adhoc-fixed teachers, the SSA teachers of 2010 and 2013 batch, along with the RMSA 2013 batch are regular employees as per the advertisement and the nature of appointment.
The RMSA 2013 has also clarified the nature of RMSA teachers’ appointment and as to why the 2013 batch along with SSA 2010 and 2013 batch were not brought under the purview of the OM.
It stated that they were appointed as regular employees by the government of Nagaland under the Directorate of School Education. It claimed that they enjoy a pay band with all other allowances and rates prescribed by the state government from time to time with effect from the date of joining and deduction towards NPS and GIS which is clearly written in our appointment order issued by the Directorate of School Education and not by the RMSA Mission.
Therefore, the association said that the office memorandum is not applicable to RMSA 2013 and SSA 2010 and 2013 batch.
