A day after Nagaland RMSA Teachers Association-2016 (NRMSATA -16) served a 7-day deadline on RMSA department over non-release of salary, the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has come out with “strong support” to the teachers and demanded that the Department of School Education (DoSE) must disburse salaries without further delay.
NPRAAF through its publicity and information cell revealed that the Finance Department through the Budget and Monitoring Cell had released a total of Rs.99.83 crore under RMSA during 2016-17 and 2017-18 to the DoSE (demand No.31-School Education).
NPRAAF pointed out that Rs.67.83crore was released during 2016-17 on four occasions- Rs.278.84lakhs on March 6, 2017; Rs.3994.82 lakhs on June 16,2016; Rs.1426.41 lakh on September 14,2016 and Rs. 1083.17 lakhs on December 19,2016. Further, it said the FD also released a total of Rs.32 crore on five occasions for the financial year 2017-18.
NPRAAF said Rs.305.58 lakh was released on April 26,2017;Rs.591.82 lakh on June 14, 2017; Rs.687.10 lakh on June 20,2017; Rs.1541.71 lakh on August 2,2017 and Rs.76.34 lakhs on Auguest 3,2017. NPRAAF also pointed out that while issuing Drawal Authority, on April 26,2017 and June 20, 2017 amounting to Rs.9.90 crore, the FD had mentioned that they were intended for payment of salaries. Again DA was issued on March 6,2017 , June 14,2017 and August 3,2017 amounting to Rs.9.47 crore which were indicated as 10% state share under RMSA.
Since the FD had not indicated any other activities/ works for the rest of the releases in the DAs, NPRAAF said this had also given rise to “doubtful payments”.
Since the state government has already released the above funds under RMSA , NPRAAF demanded to know from the DoSE as to why it continued to withhold salaries of RMSA teachers who are made to go through undue harassment and forced to run from pillar to post for what is rightfully theirs?
The forum termed as “most unfortunate” that the “unfed teachers” have to resort to ultimatums as an option to let the authorities “hear the grumbling sounds in their empty stomach”.