Our Principal Correspondent
Kohima, November 7
The Aggrieved Hindi Teachers (2012-13 Batch) Nagaland have decided to picket the offices of Sub-Divisional Education Officers (SDEOs) and District Education Officers (DEOs) from November 11 if the government fails to release their pending salaries on or before November 10. In this connection, around 30 aggrieved Hindi teachers 2012-13 batch Nagaland from all the districts of the State submitted a memorandum to Additional Director of School Education Pollem Tep here today.
Briefing media persons outside the School Education Directorate here this afternoon, the representatives said the DSE authorities were unable to give them any concrete assurance. Therefore, they said, if the government fails to meet the demand before November 10 then the aggrieved teachers will be picketing the SDEO/DEO offices in all the districts of the State from November 11.
The full text of the memorandum
“When our salaries for April, May 2013 was not released a presentation was submitted on 20th June 2013 by AHTA to the Principal Director of School Education.
Then, from June, July, August, September 2013 (4 months) our salaries were pending which compelled us to convene an emergency meeting on 9th July 2013. All Hindi Teachers (2012-13 batch) submitted a memorandum to the in-charge of Hindi Department and requested to release our salaries in time from then on after repeated appeals to the higher authority we received our pending salaries (4 months) on 13th October 2013.
On receiving two months (October and November 2013) salary in time, we believed that the Department would acknowledge our service continuously unlike the past and with that hope, also knowing our rights on 16th December 2013, we appealed for implementation of 6th ROP to the education Minister, Finance Commissioner, Principal Director of School Education and Director of School Education.
On the contrary, arrears for the month of December 2012, January, October 2013 were not released. The association appealed to the higher authority for justice and questioned injustice during this period. The only answer spilled on us was the blame on Central Government starting that, Hindi teachers scheme is 100% centrally sponsored scheme and so the problem is technically mishandled by the central government.
In 2013, the treatment given by the government to the Hindi Teachers hampered our well-being in many areas. So, the association after much deliberation about the issue, decided to take own step to tackle with the issue for justice and warned the Department for the same.
As mentioned, December 2013 and January 2014 salary January-October 2013 arrears were pending. So all aggrieved Hindi teachers (2012-13) from Dimapur resolved and went on agitation from 14th -17th of February 2014 with the knowledge of DEO and SDEO. But we had to call off our agitation under the direction of ANHTU, Dimapur believing on the assurance given by the department that our grievances would be heard and solved.
Pending salaries and arrears were released on March 2014. Also in the same month, the department press released an article stating that Hindi Teachers next two months salary and 6th ROP arrears were released by Central Government.
But from March 2014 to June 2014, there was no payment. So, the association press released an appeal with details on 20th July 2014. Parliamentary Secretary to education department gave assurance to the association on 23rd July 2014 to release the payments after the launch of MHRD new budget. Respecting his words of assurance and understandings and with the hope that the department would look into our matter seriously, we compromised and accepted the salary of two months only (March and April 2014) out of many pending arrears and salaries.
On the contrary again, for the sixth month we are serving the department without our payment. This issued has crossed beyond human tolerance in all areas. We faced discrimination and the whole process created our image as beggars and not as humble servants of the government.
Therefore, we humbly submit this report to your kind authority seeking your support and co-operation during this difficult time of our career, life, family and our children, both on and off school.”
