The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) teachers from 17 districts under the aegis of Nagaland RMSA Teachers Association (NRMSATA) 2016 batch has been staging a protest in the state capital since September 8 against the state government’s failure to implement their service benefits and rightful dues upheld by the supreme Court of India.

On Tuesday, as the protest entered the seventh day, the aggrieved teachers held a peaceful march from the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) to Secretariat Kohima. The teachers’ stir has been augmented by the recent transfer orders served on six of their members.

President NRMSATA-2016, Imlitemjen highlighted that two transfer orders for six teachers under the NRMSATA-2016 batch was issued by the State Mission Director. He said three teachers received their orders on September 10 and the other three on September 11, directing them to join their new places of posting on or before September 17 and September 19 respectively. Imlitemjen said the association has submitted a representation to revoke the order immediately.

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On the official statement issued by the department of School Education which highlighted that the department has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court and once the apex court passes its order on the petition, the state government shall honour the verdict, NRMSATA-2016 president said it was only half the story. He stated that the association will be coming out with its statement regarding it.
The association had initially planned to launch a hunger strike, however, they informed their decision to postpone it out of respect for the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), who had requested the aggrieved teachers to wait while the federation works to mediate with the government.
According to the association spokesperson, Renbemo L Patton, the NSF has been engaging with the government and plans to hold further discussions with the Advisor for School Education in an attempt to resolve the issue.

The RMSA teachers are demanding scale pay, regularisation, and mainstreaming benefits already enjoyed by their counterparts. They have also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Nagaland outlining their charter of demands.

Meanwhile, gaon bura (GB) Kahuto Chishi delivered a solidarity speech. He said that there are only two tribes in Nagaland- the poor and rich, and that well-to-do people are only trying to exploit the less fortunate.
“How long will the government fool us? They exploit sanctions meant for road development and any kind of development funds. That is not even enough. They are trying to exploit the money of teachers. The government is just trying their delay tactics,” the GB alleged. He stated that the teachers are only asking for what they have earned.