KOHIMA, APRIL 9 � Over 600 teachers belonging to Aggrieved Teachers Association of Nagaland (ATAN) today launched an indefinite hunger strike outside Nagaland Civil Secretariat here demanding release of their salary and restoration of their positions.
The Association decided to go on hunger strike at a general meeting held in Dimapur on Thursday after the State Government failed to respond to their ultimatum submitted on April 1.
The teachers from various districts of Nagaland affected by the probe instituted by the government gathered at the venue holding placards that read �DAN Government, be responsible�, �We reject SIT report totally�, �CBI not SVC�, �Give us our daily bread�, �Just not react, act fast�, �Bogus, Teachers or Government?� �We are victims of biased report�, etc.
Maintaining that there are anomalies in the SIT report, the Association has stated that it has no hope in the Special Verification Committees (SVC) set up by the government saying that it would undertake the same process of verification as done by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) since the process is identical.
Convener of the Association Vikato Swu has stated that the hunger strike will continue as long as the government does not respond to their demands.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner and Secretary, School Education, is reportedly meeting with the Chief Secretary today to discuss the issue. However, it is learnt that the government will not take any decision on the demands of the aggrieved teachers till April 30.
