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The ANATG begins its indefinite hunger strike outside the directorate of School Education in Kohima on Friday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima June 29 (EMN): A mother of two children from Mokokchung district who was part of the indefinite hunger strike from June 29 called by the All Nagaland Ad-hoc Teachers’ Group (ANATG) demanding regularisation of service fell down due to low blood pressure on Friday at the directorate of School Education in Kohima.
Sources of the group confirmed that the teacher was immediately taken to Naga Hospital for treatment, and was still there at the time this report was being written.
Even as the irregular teachers begin their hunger strike, they have written an ultimatum addressed to the principal director of School Education demanding that the department immediately file an interlocutory application before the court and redresses the agitators’ grievances without any delay.
The teachers demanded that the government brings out a separate ‘one-time special office memorandum’ particularly for the ANATG batch of 2015 by referring the official notification of the P&AR dated Aug. 30 2011 and immediately regularise their service.
The group demanded that the regularisation of the service of the ANATG batch be made through any other options, which are in the government’s power and discretion. The teachers have threatened that the ANATG shall not suspend or call off the indefinite hunger strike.
Following the ultimatum issued by the ANATG, the department has through Additional Secretary Sweho Naleo requested the teachers to call off the agitation stating that the matter regarding regularisation was sub-judice.
It stated that the government of Nagaland had already filed an affidavit raising preliminary objections ‘on the maintainability of WP (C) No. 145 (K)/2017,’ and for which it was ‘felt unnecessary’ to file an IA.
Referring to the second demand of the group, it stated ‘the OM referred to bearing no. PAR-B/6/2008 (pt) dated Kohima August 30, 2011, refers to recruitment cases only and does not refer to regularisation cases.’
The department explained that the regularisation process, of agitating ad-hoc groups, was carried out but a memorandum dated Aug. 4 2008 and Aug. 11 2011, which regulates such regularisation, was stayed by the high court on July 27 and the 28th in 2017.
The ANATG’s spokesperson Bendang Ozukum said that the ad-hoc teachers were demanding that the government file an IA for modification of the court’s interim order to regularise the 1166 ad-hoc teachers, and not ‘an affidavit.’
Even before the Acaut and PSAN had filed a petition challenging the government’s notification on regularisation of the irregular employees, Ozukum said that the ad-hoc teachers had cleared the suitability and screening test by fulfilling all the prescribed criteria stipulated by the government. He informed that the teachers would continue with their indefinite hunger strike until its demand is fulfilled.
According to a DIPR update on Friday, the advisor to School Education K Tokugha Sukhalu has stated that the agitation by the members of the ANATG warrants clarification in the interest of the public in order that the so-called contentious issues are laid bare for all to understand.
“The advisor stated that many ad-hoc / contract graduate teachers, primary teachers, Hindi teachers, drawing teachers, language teachers, lab assistants and PETs were appointed by the department in the past. The government had taken a decision to regularize their services. Accordingly, the department constituted a committee to conduct suitability test vide notification no.DSE/ESTT/REG/01/13(PT-II) in pursuance of govt. OM.No.AR-5/ASSO/98 dated 4th August 2008. The minimum qualifying years for eligibility was set at 3 (three) years of service as on 31st December 2015.
“Ad-hoc employees appointed between 2009 to 2015 including absentees and failed candidates in the previous tests were also allowed to appear the suitability test for which the P&AR department gave clearance on 21st October 2016. This was conducted on the 20th and 23rd May 2017. The screening committee thereafter recommended regularization of 1166 ad hoc / contract employees on 13th October 2017,” the report read.
“It must be clearly understood by the public at large that there is no ambiguity in the government’s decision to regularize the services of ad-hoc / contract employees who have successfully cleared the suitability test. As can be seen from the above initiatives taken, the department has sincerely tried all measures to regularize their services. We are only waiting for the final verdict of the honourable court. However, it is extremely unfortunate that members of ANATG have now resorted to go on hunger strike demanding regularizing of their service through any other available options,” he stated.
According to the report: “It is unfortunate that while the government is fully sensitized to the problems faced by government school teachers, they have been resorting to such agitations. It appears that the extremely poor results of government schools, where members of ANATG have been teaching, are furthest from their minds.
“Citizens will agree that careers of the students cannot be compromised and the government will not hesitate to take action against those who agitate on non-issues. The advisor, therefore, made a final appeal to the agitating teachers in the interest of all concerned.”
The All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association has raised questions over the writ petitions filed by the Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (Acaut) and the Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland (PSAN) ‘against the backdoor / illegal appointment of 706 posts in the 35 departments, the posts of which were supposed to be recruited though NPSC.’
In a press release issued Friday, it stated that the Acaut and PSAN have repeatedly said that their writ petition has been filed against the NPSC requisitioned posts only. “They said the case has not impleaded school teachers as the respondents since the appointment of school teachers is outside the purview of NPSC recruitment norms.
“However, it is due to ACAUT & PSAN court case interim order dated the 28/07/2017, the service regularization of 1166 ad hoc teachers has been kept on pending since last year. It may be mentioned that when the matter pertaining to regularization of 1166 ad hoc teachers has been placed before the Cabinet for final approval in its 11/11/2017 meeting, the Cabinet deferred it in view of the ACAUT & PSAN court case. The issue is still pending with Government due to said Court case,” it stated.
This has prompted the ad hoc teachers to launch various protests. “In view of the gravity of situation, the Association hereby asks ACAUT and PSAN to clarify their stand on the case as to how it is affecting/ not affecting the regularization of ad hoc teachers.
“On one hand, the petitioners said their court case has not impleaded school teachers whereas on the other hand, Government is claiming that it cannot take up the matter since it is in the court. In the process, the concerned ad hoc teachers are being sandwiched between the two parties. If the said court case has no impact on regularization of school teachers (as repeatedly claimed by petitioners) then why don’t the petitioners make their stand clear publically so that Government/Department may draw the line from the stand to resolve the pending issue early.
“The fact is that the good intent of petitioners to check corruption is adversely affecting the regularization of the teachers. If the school teachers are not implicated by the said case as disclosed by the petitioners, then why don’t the petitioners releases school teachers from the clutches of their case, so that the issue may be sorted out from outside the court,” it stated.
According to the association, “If it is not due to ACAUT and PSAN court case, the service of 1166 ad hoc teachers could have been regularized since last year November. Owing to this court case, the problem has now come up to the extent of organizing hunger strike by the aggrieved ad hoc teachers.”
In a separate press release that was issued on Friday, the Konyak Students’ Union questioned ‘why agitation has become a daily routine’ in the affairs of the state’s School Education system.
“The victimize students are tired of blame game, ‘the department or the teachers’ supposed to be held responsible. Why the teachers community are compelled to attend the agitation classes rather than their normal duties,” a press release from the union stated.
Expressing resentment over the issue, the KSU stated: “Education department should have been one of the most active functioning department among of all but it usually take wrong turn.” It stated that the agitation had ‘adversely affected the schools’ performance especially in Mon district which has the lowest literacy rate compared to other districts.’ In the recently declared NBSE (HSLC) result too, there were many schools in Mon district that had ‘zero percentage performance.’ It said this was the outcome of ‘non-stationary of teachers and regular participation of teachers in agitation.’ The KSU has asked the department to resolve the issue at the earliest.