Both sides' fingers clash: Confusion as notice emerges saying government has already fulfilled demands
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Members of the NSSATA agitating at a sit-in protest at the directorate of School Education in Kohima on June 6. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 6 (EMN): The 2010 and 2013 batches of the Nagaland Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (NSSATA) numbering by the thousand have launched their third phase of agitation in the form of a sit-in protest at the directorate of School Education in Kohima on Wednesday morning. The teachers content that that the government has failed in fulfilling its 'genuine demands.'
Through an ultimatum to the principal secretary of School Education dated April 23 2018, the NSSATA has demanded that 7th ROP be granted to the teachers in line with regular state employees'; that the salaries of the SSA teachers (2010 and 2013) be paid from the state's non-plan budget and also to release pending 7th ROP entitlement and salary.
Giving a seven-day deadline with effect from April 23, the NSSATA has warned that failure to address its demand would invite the association to initiate democratic means/mode of agitation. It stated that the government would be held responsible if any untoward incident occurs during agitations.
Subsequently, the association has called its 1st phase of agitation in the form of pen-down strike from May 2 to the 10th and 2nd phase of agitation by boycotting classes from May 11 to the 25th.
Bad network?
However, it appears that there may have been a communication gap between the teachers and the directorate, which may have led to the agitation.
The government of Nagaland is understood to have issued a notification, made available to the media, addressed to the director of School Education on June 2 2018 agreeing to almost all the demands of the association. It also directed the department to work out details and furnish it to the Finance department.
The letter stated: ‘The government has agreed in principle, to the demand for granting 7th ROP to this category of teachers, since they are being paid the same salary as regular employees. While the letter clearly directed the department to work out the details, it has also asked the department to work out a system for regular payment of salaries of the teachers under SSA.'
It stated further that the posts occupied by the Nagaland SSA teachers were created by the state government for implementation of a CSS scheme and therefore, the existing practice of paying salary through State Mission Authority shall have to continue in whatever form.
In regard to the notification, the association and the department have different versions, blaming each other for the agitation that was called today.
The NSSATA's president, Penthungo Y Yanthan, claimed to media persons that said information was neither 'intimated' nor have the group received any official notification from the department in said matter. He claimed that although a meeting called by the director was held with the executives and principal secretary on June 4 and the 5th, they were not informed anything about the letter issued by the government.
On the other hand, director of School Education Wonthungo Tsopoe said during the meeting that the executives of the association were told in detail 'point-by-point.' He said that the executives in return responded that ‘they will inform back’ after discussing the matter with members.
‘However, they went ahead without informing us on whether they accept or reject the assurance,’ said Tsopoe and added that ‘though the order was meant for the directorate to examine and work on, yet we gave copies of the order to some of the executives who attended the meeting after explaining point wise.’
‘Although the Secretariat had come out with the order for us to work on’ Tsopoe maintained that with the ongoing agitation called by the association, it cannot work on it.
Meanwhile, Yanthan has informed that the members have decided to go on an indefinite strike until its demands are met stating that it doesn’t want any verbal assurance but concrete solution.
He also said ‘we are not asking anything for anything more or extra but what is rightfully ours. We want this to be our last agitation.’
Another member, Thejangulie Kirha echoed ‘we want concrete solution so there will be no more agitation in the future. We are concern for the development of the students and the schools. We don’t want to agitate because in the end, it is the students who suffer.’
The president also informed that it will continue its sit-in protest on June 7 at 8:30 am and will continue till their demands are being fulfilled for once and for all.
