Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 1
IRKED over the failure of the state government in releasing the pending salaries and also expiry of the 15-days ultimatum served through the Governor of Nagaland, the Nagaland SSA Teachers Association (NSSATA) today launched nine-days picketing of the Sub-Divisional Education Officers (SDEO) throughout the state.In Kohima, normal function of the education offices – District Education Office (DEO), SSA State Mission Authority and SDEO were hampered with the Kohima district SSA teachers picketing the SDEO office. The three offices are housed under one-roof, but even as the information issued by NSSATA was to picket SDEO offices, being in the same building with single entrance the rest two offices were also affected.
Sizeable number of staff belong to the three offices were seen outside the gate as office hour commenced, but the SSA teachers had closed the main gate and sat-in-dharna restricting entry of the staffs.
The NSSATA members have been agitating against the non-release of their pending salaries since November 2013 by the state government.
After series of agitations which included boycotting of the schools, silent processions and sit-in-dharna during the March session of the State Assembly, the NSSATA sought the intervention of the state Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar through a 15-days ultimatum submitted on April 16 last, which expired yesterday.
However, angered to learn that the Central Government had released the SSA fund in the first week of April but the state government was yet to release their pending salaries, the NSSATA launched nine-day picketing of the education offices.
NSSATA lambasting the step-motherly treatment of the state government towards the plight of SSA teachers in the state, warned of more severe agitations even to the extent of picketing the School Education directorate.
“We will peacefully picket the SDEO offices upto 4:00 pm everyday till May 9,” NSSATA officials said without wanting to particularised.
Peren Corresspondent adds
PEREN unit of SSA along with the rest of the districts joined the picketing of the Sub Divisional Education Officer (SDEO) today. The 9-day protest which started off at 9 am in the morning ended at 4 pm this evening with no untoward incidents. Staff of SDEO office attending office were forced to return back on the first of the eight days of protests. Attendance of the agitating teachers was large despite some of the teachers, posted in remote areas of the district, not being able to make it due to transportation problems.
Interacting with Eastern Mirror, Kengimpeuding Hegui, a primary teacher, said, “I am against the policy of the government where knowingly or unknowingly, our issues have been ignored. Patience is running out. The lethargic attitude of the government towards teachers especially SSA teachers should change”.
While a graduate teacher Haisoliabe Hegeu optimistically said, “We will not give up, come what may. This will be a new social awakening.” Yet another graduate teacher gave a heart-rending comment when he stated “When we are supposed to be going to schools, we are compelled to stop and beg for what is rightfully ours”.
Many teachers were disappointed with the fact that inspite of being posted in interior areas and facing communication and transportation problems, they had made themselves available even during the recently concluded election without a murmur, not to mention the tireless efforts they rendered as teachers. Despite all these, they have opined, their problems were overlooked and indifferent treatments meted out to them. Interacting with this Correspondent, few others have, however, felt that the issue would be solved before the 9-day protest actually ends.
THE Nagaland Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers Association (NSSATA) has become downcast with non payment of salary even after repeated requests to the state government. Following this affair, 434 NSSATA also joined in the picketing outside the SDEO’s office in Dimapur today till May 9.
They held placards displaying their anguish which read ‘Down with corruption’, ‘You will be judged one day’ etc. Over 100 teachers today gathered at District Education Officer’s (DEO) Office premises here to protest against non response to their demand which they have been insisting since starting of this year.
Speaking on behalf of aggrieved teachers, NSSATA general secretary/spokesperson Thungchamo Lotha affirmed that the course of action they have taken up is not to threaten the government but to demand their rights. With thousands of children’s future at stake, he acknowledged that they would like to resume their duties but want their demands to be met at the earliest.
Terming the Education department to be one of the most corrupted in the state, members of Against Corruption And Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) who were present at DEO’s office in support of NSSATA questioned the implementation of Right To Education (RTE) and the policy maker of the state.
Labeling the bureaucrats and politicians to be shameless for depriving the future generation of their rights and failing to check upon it, the members questioned on where the money is being diverted even after it has been sanctioned by the central government.
While lauding the peaceful means of agitation taken by NSSATA, ACAUT members inculcating a sense of responsibility on the NSSATA said “if you don’t fight for your rights and rights of the children than who will. You have every right to voice for the deprived section”.
They also called upon them not to compromise even with a single paisa and ensure that even a single paisa which is theirs belong to them. If they fail to do that than they are equally contributing to corruption, said the ACAUT members.
The failure on the part of government to meet demands of the educators is not only affecting them but killing education and rights of children as well.
