Mokokchung, October 19 (MTNews): Following the protests by the All Nagaland Adhoc Teachers Group 2015 batch (ANATG-2015), a 5-member high powered committee (HPC) has been constituted to review and devise a mechanism to resolve the issue of adhoc/contract appointments under Department of School Education.
The HPC consists of the following members:
KD Vizo, Principal Secretary (Chairman),
Commissioner and Secretary P&AR (Member),
Commissioner & Secretary Justice & Law (Member),
Commissioner & Secretary Finance (Member),
Commissioner & Secretary, School Education (Member Secretary).
As per a notification issued by state Chief Secretary J Alam on October 18, the HPC shall submit its report by 30th June 2023. The HPC is also tasked to examine the grant of the 7th Central Pay Commission (Revision of Pay) to the ANATG-2015.
Further, the notification said that the HPC may co-opt members as deemed necessary. The representatives of the ANATG-2015 and All Nagaland Teachers Association shall be given the opportunity of presenting their case before the Committee, the notification stated. It also said that the HPC shall have review meetings every two months.
ANATG-2015 laud government’s ‘quick action’
Meanwhile, the ANATG-2015 batch has stated that it is pleased with the formation of the High Powered Committee (HPC) by the Government of Nagaland on 18 October, 2022.
The Group also said in a statement issued by President Rüguotsolie and General Secretary Kewasing Khing that it acknowledged the ‘quick action’ taken by the Government to constitute the committee, ahead of the deadline set, which was 15 days, and reaffirmed good faith in the initiative of the Government whilst anticipating a positive solution.
Following talks with state government officials on Friday, October 7, the Adhoc Nagaland government teachers called off their protest, after a 12-day long agitation against the state government for not adhering to their demand of immediate service regularization.
The ANATG-2015 batch, which has 1,166 members and was appointed to various government schools in the state between 1994 and 2012, had been holding protests outside the State Civil Secretariat since September 26. On September 29, the group also launched an indefinite hunger strike. A total of 73 ANATG members volunteered for the hunger strike which continued till the agitation was called off on October 7.
The third round of negotiations between a 30-member team from the ANATG-2015 Batch led by its president Ruguotsolie and a five-member government side led by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister K D Vizo, however, took place on invitation from the government and ended on a constructive note on October 7.
According to the meeting minutes made available to the public, the meeting decided to form a High Powered Committee (HPC) within 15 days, lead by a Principal Secretary or Commissioner Secretary, and deliver its recommendations by June 2023. After that, a procedure would be followed to fix the ANATG-2015 Batch issue by December 2023.
The meeting also decided that service extensions for ANATG members would remain until the issue was resolved; however, proxy teachers and untrained teachers would not be covered by this exception.
Additionally, it was determined that the ANATG-2015 batch and members of the All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) would have the opportunity to argue their case before the HPC before the 7th Revision of Pay was granted.