Disheartened by the indifferent response from the state government towards their demand, the protesting All Nagaland Ad-hoc Teachers Group (ANATG) 2015 batch has decided to go on an indefinite hunger strike starting tomorrow, 30 September.

This was informed by ANATG 2015 batch spokesperson Bendang Ozukum in a press conference held at NSF Solidarity Park, Kohima.

The 1,166 of ANATG had a general meeting this evening and basing on the views and opinions the ANATG has declared indefinite hunger strike, he said adding that there will be no more negotiations but only regularisation.

The 1,166 ad hoc teachers – who have been in service for over a decade – are demanding regularisation of their services with a silent sit-in protest outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima. The protest completed its fourth day today.

On the other hand, the government has said regularisation is not possible because of a Standing Order of the High Court.

At the press conference, Ozukum said the teachers were dismayed by the apathetic attitude of the government, adding that so far there have been no signs of the government reaching out to them nor any gestures shown that they feel for the teachers.

“We are teachers but more importantly we are humans,” the ANATG spokesperson added.

Ozukum informed that the All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) had held a meeting with Kevileno Angami, Commissioner & Secretary for School Education & SCERT.

It was reported that at the meeting, some government officials had said the government wanted to help the teachers but did not know how to. Ozukum said the officials then allegedly suggested the 1,166 teachers tell the authorities how to regularise their services.

“We as teachers, we are simple individuals trying to teach our students, how do we tell them how to regularise us. We have waited enough, we have been very patient,” he added.

At the end of Day 4 of the agitation, neither the group nor the government is ready to negotiate.