Kohima, February 23: The Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association (NGTA), representing the erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) teachers of the 2010 and 2013 batches, has announced a two-day pen-down strike on February 24 and 25 in protest against what it describes as the continued denial of salary parity despite being formally absorbed into the State Education Cadre.
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In a press release issued on Monday, the association stated that the decision to launch the strike was taken after the expiry of a seven-day ultimatum served to the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) on February 16. According to the NGTA, the ultimatum sought urgent intervention and resolution of a long-pending issue concerning the salary status of its members.
The association said that a total of 2,293 teachers belonging to the erstwhile SSA and RMSA categories were officially mainstreamed into the State Education Cadre through a government order issued on September 2, 2022, following approval by the State Cabinet. The order was implemented with retrospective effect from April 21, 2022, effectively granting them the status of regular government employees under the School Education Department.
However, despite the mainstreaming process being completed more than three years ago, the NGTA alleged that the salaries of its members continue to be drawn under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) funding pattern rather than through the appropriate State Account Head used for regular state cadre employees. The association argued that this arrangement places its members at a disadvantage and fails to recognize their status as regular government teachers.
According to the NGTA, numerous representations, memorandums, and appeals have been submitted to the concerned authorities over the years seeking the inclusion of their salary component in the State Non-Plan Budget on par with other regular employees of the School Education Department. Despite repeated efforts, the association claimed that there has been no satisfactory response or concrete action from the department.
The teachers’ body expressed disappointment over what it termed the “lackadaisical approach” of the authorities in addressing the matter. It maintained that the issue has remained unresolved despite several rounds of communication and assurances.
As a result, the association said it was left with no alternative but to resort to democratic means of protest. During the two-day pen-down strike, teachers affiliated with the association are expected to refrain from academic and administrative duties while remaining present at their respective places of posting.
The NGTA emphasized that its agitation is not intended to disrupt the education system but rather to draw attention to what it considers a legitimate and long-overdue demand. The association reiterated that salary parity should be extended to all mainstreamed teachers in accordance with their status as members of the State Education Cadre.
The association further warned that if the government fails to address the issue within the stipulated strike period, it will intensify its movement through a “peaceful and democratic form of agitation” beginning February 26. It stated that the agitation would continue until the demand for salary parity and inclusion under the appropriate state budgetary head is fulfilled.
The development is expected to draw significant attention from both the education department and the state government, as any prolonged disruption could impact academic activities in schools across Nagaland. The association has urged the authorities to take immediate steps to resolve the matter and avoid further escalation of the protest.
With the strike set to commence, all eyes are now on the government’s response to the concerns raised by the 2,293 teachers who say they have been waiting for equitable treatment since their formal integration into the state education system.
