Kohima, February 26: The Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association (NGTA) representing the 2010 and 2013 batches of teachers intensified its agitation on Thursday by launching a peaceful sit-in protest outside the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) in Kohima. The association is demanding that the salary component of its members be shifted from Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) funding to the State Non-Development Expenditure head, in line with other regular state government employees.
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| Members of the Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association stage a peaceful sit-in outside the Directorate of School Education, Kohima, demanding salary shift to the state non-development fund. (Image: TNP) |
The protest comes in the wake of a two-day pen-down strike observed on February 24 and 25 following the expiry of a seven-day ultimatum submitted to the Principal Director of School Education. The ultimatum sought a resolution to what the teachers describe as a long-standing issue concerning their salary status and funding pattern.
According to the association, approximately 1,500 teachers from different districts of Nagaland participated in the first day of the sit-in demonstration. The NGTA represents a total of 2,293 government teachers belonging to the erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) categories who were appointed in 2010 and 2013.
Speaking during the protest, NGTA Dimapur district unit president Alemkala stated that the teachers were formally mainstreamed into the State Education Cadre in September 2022 following government approval. Despite their induction into the regular cadre system, she said their salaries continue to be paid under Centrally Sponsored Schemes rather than through the state’s non-development expenditure budget.
She argued that the teachers were recruited through a regular appointment process and have served the education sector for more than a decade. According to her, the issue is not merely about salary disbursement but about receiving equal treatment and recognition as regular state cadre employees.
“Our salaries continue to be drawn under CSS funding even after mainstreaming. We are simply demanding that our salary component be shifted to the State Non-Development budget like all other state cadre employees,” Alemkala said.
The association maintained that its members have been striving for parity for over 13 years and believe that their status as regular government teachers should be fully reflected in the state’s budgeting and administrative framework.
Addressing the gathering, NGTA President Peihau recalled that the state Cabinet, during its October 2018 meeting, had accepted the inclusion of the 2010 and 2013 batches into the State Education Cadre “in principle.” Following the fulfilment of all stipulated conditions and requirements by April 2022, the teachers were formally mainstreamed through a government order issued in September of the same year.
Peihau asserted that the mainstreaming process was completed after years of service and compliance with government directives, making it incumbent upon the state government to implement all consequential benefits associated with cadre status.
“Once we have been inducted into the state cadre, it becomes the responsibility of the government to honour that order in its entirety. Shifting our salary component to the non-development expenditure head is part of that process,” he said.
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The association reiterated that its protest remains peaceful and democratic in nature but warned that it would continue its agitation until its demand is addressed. Leaders stated that further courses of action would be decided based on the government's response in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the School Education Department has maintained that the determination of budget heads for salary payments is an administrative and financial matter that does not fall within the prerogative of employees. However, the NGTA insists that the issue directly affects the status and parity of its members and therefore warrants urgent attention.
The ongoing protest has drawn attention from various stakeholders within the education sector, as the association continues to press for what it describes as equitable treatment for teachers who have already been absorbed into the state service framework. With no resolution yet in sight, the standoff is expected to remain a key issue in Nagaland's education administration in the coming weeks.
