EMN
Dimapur, September 2
Teachers employed by private institutions under the education scheme (SSA) have demanded salary pending three months. Failure to address the grievances of the affected teachers would compel an untoward response, the Wokha unit of the All Nagaland Private School Teachers’ Association (ANPSTA) has declared today. The ANPSTA unit issued a press release today stating their grievances on behalf of what they called the “SSA appointees” for “nonpayment of salary.” According to the association, the “concerned department” has “had enough slumber” and is time to “wake up and see the plight of those victims teachers” (SSA appointees) who are yet to receive salaries pending three months.
“The authority must clear its stand/position or reason for non-release of salaries through media so that we the victims can bear and cooperate with the government till the pool of corruption is sealed or problem sorted out, provided the reason must be valid and genuine,” the association stated through its president Z Libenthung Murry.
The teachers’ association had sought an explanation of the reasons the salaries have yet to be released. “However no response/reason, either negative or positive, has been made known to the affected teachers so far. The present welfare state and peoples friendly government has no ear and heart for its poor and honest servants, because if the government can pay salaries to those adhoc, contract or casual teachers, why not the qualified teachers who are appointed (under SSA new post creation) through competitive exam?” the teachers’ representative said.
The time has come for the affected teachers to protest against the authorities in concern “for not doing justice to the teachers,” the teachers said. “We feel that demand and protest in any form and filing court case against the government by innocent and poor citizens in our state has become something a new fashion, without which getting justice is beyond human reach in our state.”
The ANPSTA said the SSA is a centrally-sponsored scheme, funded by the government of India and “therefore salaries (90 percent) and all other related developmental activities like establishment and up gradation of schools in the field of education are being borne by the central government.”
If the current situation continues, the ANPSTA stated, all affected teachers should be ready and alert to show their resentment. The ANPSTA stated: “Any corrupt forces who led us to this situation must be held responsible, for enough is enough. The ANPSTA Wokha unit shall support and stand by the step(s) or decisions to be taken by the office bearers and representative of 2012 selected PT/GT teachers, and the decision of the central ANSTA with regard to the non release of salaries to the teachers (SSA appointees).”
The group stated further that “we will remained confused, frustrated and agitated” till their grievances are redressed. “Empty stomach teachers can never deliver quality education,” the Wokha unit explained.
The Wokha unit of the ANPSTA is appreciative of the ANSTA “for showing and expressing such a serious humane concern by way of appealing for early release of the affected teachers’ salary through media and representation,” to various officials of the state. “We humbly request and seek kind support and voice of all parents of the affected teachers and any welfare NGOs in our state who has concern for the teachers,” the ANPSTA stated.
