High Powered Committee formed to review ad hoc teachers issue

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Oct. 19 (EMN): The Nagaland government on Tuesday formed a five-member High Powered Committee (HPC) to review the ad hoc teachers matter, as resolved in the last meeting on October 7 with the All Nagaland Ad hoc Teachers Group batch of 2015 (ANATG-2015).

The chief secretary, in a notification issued on Oct. 18, stated that “in the interest of public service, a High Powered Committee is hereby constituted to review and devise a mechanism to resolve the issue of adhoc/contract appointments under department of School Education”.

The committee is led by KD Vizo, Principal Secretary to the chief minister as chairman and commissioner secretary of School Education as member secretary. Other members include the commissioner and secretary of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Justice and Law, and Finance departments.

The notification stated that the committee should submit its report by June 30, 2023 and also hold a review meeting every two months.

The representatives of ANATG-2015 and All Nagaland School Teachers Association will also be given the opportunity to present their case before the committee, it said.

Further, the committee will also examine the grant of the 7th Revision of Pay to ANATG-2015 and may co-opt members as deemed necessary.

ANATG-2015 appreciates ‘quick action’

In response, ANATG-2015 acknowledged the ‘quick action’ taken by the government to constitute the committee, ahead of the deadline, which was 15 days.

“The group reaffirms good faith in the initiative of the government whilst anticipating a positive solution”, a press release from the group stated.

It may be mentioned that ANATG-2015 organised a 12-day sit-in protest and eight days of hunger strike over non-regularisation of their service.

The protest and hunger strike was called off on Oct. 7 after a crucial meeting with government officials on the same day. A five-point resolution including the formation of HPC within 15 days was listed during the meeting, which was later adopted following the 1166 teachers' consensus.