More trouble may be in store for the crisis-ridden DAN government under chief minister, T.R. Zeliang when the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) rejected outright reduction of Graduate Teachers pay band from Rs 9,300 to Rs 5,200 and grade pay from Rs 4,200 to Rs 3,400.
According to a press release issued by its president Ponchulo Wanth and general secretary Visato Koso, ANSTA in its executive meeting held on December 15 contended that the move would mean a reduction of Rs 4,100 from existing pay band and Rs 800 less than the present grade pay.
The meeting termed the reduction of salary an insult and humiliation to teaching community since salary was the sole sustaining source for the teachers. “It has brought down the morale of teachers to the lowest level and will have its own bearing in the teaching-learning process,” the meeting felt.
The Association also expressed its strong resentment and disagreement with other provisions in new Service Rules – i) encadrement of Principal Director’s post to IAS cadre; ii) reduction of 19 DEO/Jt Director posts to 12 and 253 HM post to 117; iii) withdrawal of HM & AHM from composite GHSS; iv) classification of SDEO/Asstt Director into Junior and Senior given different grades; v) discrimination among employees by giving many privileges to one group of teachers while sidelining other groups.
ANSTA reiterated that revision of service rules and cadres in the department had come after a gap of many years and the main purpose of revision was to improve and upgrade the existing system. However, as far as the present notification was concerned, it had downgraded the existing one, instead of improvising it, the teachers’ body pointed out.
The Association, therefore, urged upon the authority concerned to review the defective provisions of the rules with immediate effect as it would adversely affect employees, if these implemented in the present form.
The meeting unanimously resolved to urge the State government to rectify the discrepancies in the new Service Rules within a month, failing which ANSTA would be left with no other option but resort to State-wide agitation that might disturb the forthcoming HSLC and HSSLC exams scheduled from March 5, 2018.
ANSTA also reminded all its members across the State to be “mentally and physically prepared for any eventuality” as another phase of agitation against the indifferent attitude of the government towards teaching community was imminent, it failed to do the needful within the stipulated time.