Mokokchung, 22 September (MTNews): Teachers in Nagaland are on the verge of taking drastic action as they grapple with persistent delays in receiving their salaries. The All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) and the Nagaland Government Higher Secondary Schools Employees Association (NGHSSEA) have jointly issued a letter to the Commissioner Secretary of School Education and SCERT, warning of a two-week pen-down strike if their demands are not met.
The key concern driving this imminent strike, according to the letter, is the regular delay in salary disbursements, which teachers say undermine their financial stability and dedication to their profession. The timing, according to them, is particularly disheartening, given that the entire nation recently celebrated Teachers’ Day, dedicated to honoring the invaluable contributions of educators.
This recurring delay not only hampers teachers’ livelihoods but also appears to disregard the principles set forth by Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whose birth anniversary is celebrated as Teachers’ Day, the teachers said.
“As educators, we are committed to going the extra mile in shaping the future of our students and serving our communities. However, this dedication is met with potent when our basic financial needs are not met on time,” the letter added.
Therefore, ANSTA and NGHSSEA implored the department to rectify the situation by promptly releasing the pending salaries and provide assurances that such delays will not occur in the future.
“We have shown patience and understanding, but now we find ourselves compelled to take a stand,” it stated.
It stated that despite ANSTA’s prior submission of a letter on 14 September 2023, urging the release of teachers’ salaries, there has been no response or action. In response to this inaction, the teacher associations have issued a stern warning, urging the education department to expedite the release of pending salaries and provide written assurance that future delays will be avoided.
In the event that their demands remain unaddressed, Nagaland’s teachers have announced their intention to launch a two-week pen-down strike, invoking the principle of “No pay, no work.”