DIMAPUR, June 8 - Members of the Nagaland Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Teachers� Association (NSSATA) staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the Nagaland Secretariat in Kohima today. The association launched the third phase of its agitation by holding a dharna in front of the Directorate of School Education in Kohima for two days starting Wednesday.
The SSA teachers decided to stage the protest today after a meeting between the NSSATA leaders and the School Education Director and other senior officials of the Directorate remained inconclusive.
The NSSATA office-bearers said they had decided to continue their agitation as their core demand for payment of their salary under the State�s non-plan Budget was not addressed.
The association reminded the officials that the SSA teachers of the 2010 and 2013 batches were appointed as regular employees through open recruitment.
The NSSATA has been demanding the 7th RoP (revision of pay), release of pending salaries with RoP from January to March and transfer of their salaries to non-plan head.
Meanwhile, addressing media persons in his office on Friday, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy said the State Government has been examining the SSA teachers� demands and trying to resolve the issues. Despite tight resources, the State Government has been doing its best to remove their immediate difficulties, Toy said.
Stating that funds under the Centrally-sponsored schemes were not being released regularly, the Chief Secretary, however, admitted that there were shortcomings on the part of the State Government. He said there were loopholes during the appointment of teachers due to which the Government is now struggling to find a solution to outstanding problems.
Toy appealed to all the aggrieved teachers to remember their responsibilities, stating that the education of children cannot be compromised due to the agitation.
School Education Principal Secretary Menukhol John pointed out that the SSA teachers� salaries are borne under the SSA scheme of the Government of India and their salaries are released only when the Centre releases the funds. He added that the State Government is making all efforts to pay their salaries even if the Central Government fails to release the money on time.
On the three demands of the NSSATA, John said there are certain formalities to be followed before agreeing to the 7th RoP as there are various categories of SSA employees working on both fixed and contract basis.
