Kohima, February 6: A protest staged by the All Nagaland Adhoc Teachers’ Group (ANATG), 2015 Batch, turned tense on Friday after a section of agitating teachers attempted to enter the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima while pressing for the immediate regularisation of their services.
The incident occurred during an ongoing agitation launched by the teachers, who have been holding a sit-in demonstration at Naga Solidarity Park since February 4. The protest was organised following what the group described as the state government's failure to respond positively to their long-standing demand for regularisation despite repeated representations and an ultimatum issued earlier this year.
On Friday, the protesters began a peaceful march from the protest site towards the Nagaland Civil Secretariat as part of their campaign to draw the government's attention to their demands. However, the situation became tense when some members of the crowd, who had gathered near the Secretariat's main entrance, reportedly removed security barricades and advanced towards the restricted area of the government complex.
Security personnel deployed at the site, along with officials from the district administration, quickly intervened to prevent the protesters from entering the Secretariat premises. During the brief confrontation, a scuffle broke out between some protesters and security personnel. Officials later confirmed that one person sustained minor injuries during the incident.
Despite the tension, the situation was brought under control without any major escalation. Leaders of the ANATG intervened and appealed to the protesters to remain calm and maintain discipline. Following discussions with authorities, the demonstrators returned to their designated protest site at Naga Solidarity Park.
As part of the subsequent engagement, members of the ANATG core committee were permitted to enter the Secretariat and submit a formal representation to the concerned authorities. The memorandum was addressed to the Commissioner and Secretary, School Education and SCERT, Government of Nagaland, as well as the Member Secretary of the High Powered Committee (HPC) Agreement 2022.
In their representation, the teachers reiterated their demand for the immediate regularisation of 1,166 ad hoc teachers belonging to the 2015 batch. According to the group, these teachers were appointed between 1994 and December 2012 and have been serving in government schools across Nagaland for many years.
The ANATG argued that the affected teachers had already undergone a recruitment process that included written examinations, interviews, and document verification conducted in 2017. The organisation maintained that despite fulfilling all required procedures and serving the education sector for decades, the teachers continue to remain without regular appointments.
The current phase of agitation began after the state government failed to meet a January 30 deadline set by the teachers in an ultimatum submitted on January 7. The group has maintained that repeated assurances and discussions have yet to translate into a concrete decision regarding their status.
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Speaking during the protest, members of the organisation said the issue concerns not only employment security but also the welfare of hundreds of families dependent on the teachers. They urged the government to honour previous commitments and provide a clear roadmap for regularisation.
The ANATG has warned that its agitation will continue until the government announces a definite and time-bound decision on the matter. The group stated that while it remains committed to peaceful democratic means of protest, it expects a prompt response from the authorities to resolve the long-pending issue.
The development has once again brought attention to the challenges faced by ad hoc employees in the state and the broader debate surrounding regularisation policies in public service. As discussions continue, all eyes remain on the state government for its response to the demands of the 1,166 ad hoc teachers whose future employment status remains uncertain.
