All Nagaland Inclusive Education Resource Teachers, Resource Persons and Volunteers Union (ANIERTRPVU) has demanded that the state government and the department responsible release their eight-month pending salary (April 2015 to December 2015) latest by January 2016. The union has cautioned that they would not remain silent but would continue to raise their voices till justice was met.
In a press release, ANIERTRPVU president Kethamo Kath asked if Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the government were taking their silence as their weaknesses and asserted that if it was so then the department was “making a grave mistake and only adding salt to the wound”.
Kath stated that having confidence in the department, they were patiently waiting for eight- month long salary from last year as they were told that pending pay would be released before Christmas. However, the ANIERTRPVU president said to their dismay, the assurances happened to be in words only and unfortunately failed to see the daylight.
Pointing out that January 2106 was also on the verge of completion, Kath said it was going to be 10 months since their last salary. However, he said the members as responsible teachers, would be reporting and performing normal duty as assigned by the department.
Kath said they had even come to a conclusion and gone to the extent that unless they opt for a strike/agitation like other association did to meet and fulfil their demand and in redressing their grievances, the department would not pay heed to their patient and humble request. “It’s a long wait, our patient has waned and impatient has set in,” Kath said.
He, however, added that keeping in mind of many strikes the department faced and having concern for innocent students who would be the victims, the members opted not to initiate any undemocratic means of agitation having good faith in the department and for the welfare of student community. But, Kath said they wanted to make their stand very clear that “if this step-motherly treatment prolongs, the concern department will be held and bear the responsibility for any inconveniences that may arise from this imbroglio.”
He said waiting and expecting for nine-ten months for what was theirs was not a joke and cannot be taking lightly. Kath said members of Kohima district had received two-month salary in the first week of January 2016, and thanked ADC, DMA Kohima staff.
Kath said they were fed up of hearing the phrase “in the process” and many excuses that the department harped. ANIERTRPVU president therefore urged the authority to release pay, but not in slice, in order to avoid pulling one another’s leg and continue to have congenial relationship.
Further, affirming that they were not demanding or using forces in asking for what was not entitled to them, ANIERTRPVU president said they were “humbly begging” what was theirs.