In a bid to address the long-pending grievances of the Nagaland RMSA 2016 batch teachers, a high-level meeting was convened on September 18 under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha.

According to an official release, the meeting was attended by officials from the School Education department, Samagra Shiksha, Law & Justice department and representatives of the RMSA 2016 batch.

Sinha stated to have explained the government processes and the constraints of the state

government, prior to the outcome of the Review Petition filed in the Supreme Court in

considering the demand of the aggrieved teachers for implementing scale pay. Acknowledging the contribution of the teachers, he reminded the RMSA 2016 teachers on the adverse impact of their agitation on the students’ community and the desire of the government to resolve their issues.

He also highlighted the time taken in disposal of litigation cases and suggested for

exploring workable alternatives to resolve the present stand-off. Therefore, constitution of a

committee with representatives from the School Education/Samagra, Finance, Justice and Law, All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) and representatives of the RMSA 2016 batch to look into their grievances was proposed.

The government officials assured the RMSA teachers to study the memorandum submitted

by them to Chief Minister and requested the teachers to call off the agitation and return back

to school to prevent learning loss in schools.

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Meanwhile, when contacted, NRMSATA-16 president Imlitemjen told Nagaland Tribune that the meeting on Thursday was not official. He said the “unofficial meeting” took place outside the Secretariat, but opened window for negotiations.

However, he underscored that both the parties have to introduce proposals or offers for negotiations.

He said that after the meeting, the department notified that they will have another sitting but the association has not been informed for any official meeting.

The president said that the department had verbally informed the association on setting up a committee however he said that the association has no lookout in the setting up of a committee.

He asserted that there is no point in constituting a committee. “There’s no point in introducing us a committee or discussing over it,” he stated, adding that the state government has to take action.

On the state government’s request to call off the protest, Imlitemjen said officials have been asking them to call off the agitation since day-one.

“Until and unless there an amicable solution. We won’t stop. The agitation will go on until the government gives an alternate solution,” he added.