RMSA teachers dismiss Nagaland government clarification as ‘half cooked story’

KOHIMA — Dismissing the state government’s clarification on their demands as a “half cooked story,” the Nagaland RMSA Teachers’ Association 2016 batch on Tuesday staged a rally from the Directorate of School Education to the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima, pressing for implementation of scale pay and other service benefits.

The agitation, now in its seventh day, has intensified following the issuance of transfer orders to six of the protesting members last week, which the association described as an act of intimidation. On Tuesday, the teachers submitted a letter to the mission director seeking revocation of the transfer orders.

During the protest, one of the teachers fell ill and had to be rushed to hospital in the afternoon.

Association’s spokesperson, Renbemo L Patton, confirmed that the teacher was hospitalised and not responding well. He said the incident reflected the toll the week-long agitation had taken on members, some of whom were even protesting despite family bereavements.

Also read: RMSA 2016 pay row: Nagaland government clarifies status, urges teachers to resume duties

Patton also said that government is yet to respond to their demand to revoke the transfer orders. “It has to be revoked because it's a kind of threat from the government side,” he maintained.

Association president Imlitemjen criticised the government’s stance, alleging that the teachers were appointed in 2016 without any mention of salary and were forced to sign a bond that was later deemed invalid by the court.

He pointed out that, as per the erstwhile Ministry of Human Resource Development’s guidelines, RMSA teachers were to be appointed on a regular basis and at par with the state cadre, and necessary clearances had been obtained from the Personnel and Administrative Reforms and Finance departments, and approval for scale pay granted by the Cabinet secretariat.

On the review petition filed by the state, he said it was submitted after 60 days of the ruling along with a plea for condonation of delay. “What new evidence is the government submitting in the review petition? The only difference is that the teachers will be overage,” he remarked, adding that some members could retire in just 14 years.

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One of the affected teachers, Kutsholo Tsuhah, termed the order as was akin to punishment. “When we are fighting for our rights and justice, government giving us punishment (transfer order) like this is not right,” he told Eastern Mirror.

Tsuhah, originally posted at GHS Phokhungri, was later deployed at the Educational Block Research Centre (EBRC) in Meluri, where he served for three years before being moved to EBRC Pfutsero. After one-and-a-half years there, he was transferred back to Phokhungri in the latest order.

He maintained that teachers were not opposed to transfers as government employees but felt that such orders should not be used as a tool of pressure. He further criticised the ‘No work, no pay’ directive served on the protesting members, saying it amounted to punishment.

Read more: Protesting RMSA teachers flay Nagaland government transfer orders

Speaking on the challenges faced by RMSA teachers, Tsuhah highlighted that the state government has continued to keep them on fixed pay for more than nine years, leaving them with no financial security.

He cited the case of a colleague suffering from kidney failure since February, who is struggling with medical expenses after multiple dialysis sessions.

 “Without any savings it is difficult for him to manage his medical expenses. If government is going to treat us in the same way, in the next ten years, how can we survive? We are in a pathetic condition,” he said.

He added that many teachers were struggling financially and urged the government to implement the court orders granting them scale pay. “We are also giving our best despite challenging situations. Where did our best service go if the government is not willing to give us proper (scale pay) salary?”

GB Kahuto Chishi also addressed the rally in solidarity with the teachers.