Kohima, February 11: The All Nagaland Ad hoc Teachers’ Group (ANATG), 2015 batch, intensified its agitation on Wednesday by launching an indefinite hunger strike outside the Capital Convention Centre in Kohima, marking the seventh day of its protest over delayed service regularisation.
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| ANATG-2015 members stage an indefinite hunger strike in Kohima, demanding immediate service regularisation after years of contractual service. |
The hunger strike began around 12 noon, with 15 male volunteers initially participating. Core committee member Bendangtemsu Ozukum later informed that 13 members continued the fast, consuming only water without juice supplements, and would not be replaced - unlike in previous hunger strikes in 2018 and 2022.
The protest, which began in a low-key manner on February 4 at Naga Solidarity Park, entered a more intense phase after the group said it received no satisfactory response from the government despite submitting a letter to the Principal Director warning of the hunger strike if action was not taken by 4 pm on Monday.
Although some officials reportedly requested a one-day deferment with assurances of a response, ANATG claimed that no formal communication was received even after official working hours. The group expressed concern that the government and the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) had not fully communicated developments regarding the seven-point charter of demands highlighted on February 4, nor addressed the additional demands submitted on February 6 calling for immediate regularisation.
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Permission to protest at the Capital Convention Centre was granted only until 4 pm, after which the group shifted to a private location and approached the district administration for further approval.
ANATG stated that many members have travelled from distant districts such as Tuensang and Mon, making it increasingly difficult to sustain the sit-in protest. Having served between 14 and 32 years under contractual or ad hoc arrangements in the School Education Department, the teachers reiterated their demand for immediate service regularisation.
This marks the third agitation and third hunger strike launched by ANATG over the same issue. While acknowledging past hunger strikes had to be curtailed due to health concerns, the volunteers said they remain determined to continue.
Despite escalating the protest, the group said it still reposes faith in the government and hopes for a positive response that could influence its future course of action.
