As protests by multiple groups of government teachers continue across the State, Advisor for School Education and SCERT Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome on Monday revealed that the School Education department has consumed Rs 9,426.93 crore over the past five years, with just 0.48% of the expenditure invested in capital infrastructure.
Briefing the media in Kohima, Yhome defended the government’s position on regularisation and salary demands, warning that shifting teachers’ salaries from centrally sponsored schemes to the State Plan was “impossible” and could severely strain the State’s budgeting system.
The protests involve the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) teachers’ batch of 2016, the All Nagaland Ad hoc Teachers Group-2015 (ANATG-2015), and the ongoing agitation by the Nagaland Government Teachers Association (NGTA) batches of 2010 and 2013, which entered its third day on Monday.
“I cannot understand why they want the state to pay their salaries. That is very unreasonable. Till today, they have been receiving their salaries,” Yhome said, adding that salary emoluments are currently released by the Government of India in four instalments.
He warned that continued agitation could invite disciplinary action, including suspension and break in service, adding that prolonged protests were already affecting students.
Yhome revealed that regularising the RMSA 2016 batch alone would cost the State Rs 313 crore until the last teacher retires and would also mean forgoing over Rs 80 crore in future central assistance.
Between 2020 and 2025, the State allocated Rs 7,891.36 crore to School Education, while central funding contributed Rs 1,535.57 crore – bringing the total expenditure to Rs 9,426.93 crore.
Despite this, only 0.48% of State funds were invested in infrastructure. Much of Nagaland’s school infrastructure dates back to the 1960s–80s and is now in poor condition, he said.
The advisor further disclosed that 3,364 “backdoor appointees” across departments have been regularised – 2,483 in School Education alone.
Of the 1,166 ANATG-2015 members currently agitating, only 235 have submitted required documents for verification, with 100 cleared so far by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms department.
He warned that submission of fake certificates would lead to termination and recovery of all benefits received.
Appealing for restraint, Yhome said the government would follow due process but stressed that financial realities could not be ignored.