The Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association (NGTA) 2010 and 2013 batches on Thursday organised a peaceful sit-in protest at the Directorate of School Education (DoSE), Kohima, as part of their ongoing agitation demanding a change in the salary head under which they are paid.
The Association had launched its agitation on February 24 and 25, seeking the transfer of their salary components to the State’s non-plan (non-development) expenditure head. According to NGTA, around 1,500 teachers participated on the first day of the protest out of a total membership of 2,293.
As part of the protest, members gathered at the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) for a peaceful democratic sit-in. The Association also announced exemption from the agitation for pregnant members and those on maternity leave.
NGTA Dimapur unit president, Alemkala said that they were appointed in the year 2010 and 2013 and main streamed into state cadre in September 2022.
Although categorized as SSA and RMSA by the department, Alemkala stated that from the time of their advertisement and appointment they have been regular appointees.
“We have been fighting for over 13 years to be treated on bar with other state cadre . Our salary component which is being funded from the CSS fund should be shifted to the state cadre non plan budget,” she noted.
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NGTA President highlighted that for this reason they have written many representatives over the years and an as well ultimatum which expired three days back.
“The first step that we took was two-day pen down strike and today we have gathered at DOSE as a way of democratic peaceful sit in protest,” she cited. The president was also hopeful that the department and the government would look into this matter at the earliest.
NGTA 2010 & 2013 president, Peihau stated that the State Cabinet in 2018 had in principle recognised them as state cadre teachers subject to certain criteria, which were fulfilled before their integration into the State education cadre on April 21, 2022.
“After mainstreaming, it is the responsibility of the government to honour the order by transferring our salary component from CSS funding to the State non-development head. All state cadre employees draw salaries from this head, and we deserve the same treatment,” he said.
The Association asserted that the agitation would continue until the government fulfils its demand, while expressing hope that the department and the State government would address the issue at the earliest.
