9 in hospital; one critical
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 21
The “aggrieved teachers” have entered the fourth day of its hunger-strike agitation and have appealed to various nongovernmental organisations to stand by them. Today, April 21, the Aggrieved Teachers’ Association Nagaland (ATAN) held a meeting with several NGOs at the District Education Officer’s office premises in Dimapur.
In the morning, the president of Naga Council of Dimapur with his colleagues visited the spot. It was informed that many of the NGOs could not turn up as they were engaged in another important meeting at Hebron camp. Also, ATAN members from other districts have joined the agitation from today.
Since the protest started, nine members, who had volunteered for indefinite hunger strike, have been admitted to Dimapur District Hospital. Among them, one Akali is in critical condition and has been moved to Zion Hospital Research Centre in Dimapur. It has been informed that she is refusing to drink or eat although her kidneys are not functioning well.
An executive of the association also clarified that ATAN’s protest had to coincide with the Nagaland Baptist Church Council’s Platinum Jubilee celebration because earlier ATAN had given an ultimatum to the state government to ‘revoke the abeyance’ before April 10, which was later postponed to April 17. But till April 18 there was no sign of action as assured. So as intended, ATAN moved on with the agitation.
Another executive member said that in the past three years hardly any NGOs stood by them. However, he is appealing to the NGOs to portray what the ATAN claims is a “humanitarian issue” as thousands have been affected.
AN ATAN leader said: “We are being treated like laboratory animals. So many committees were set up and many investigations were carried out but nothing has been done. Most of our Naga leaders are silent. Are we not Nagas? Are we not their children? We did not create the appointment. Government appointed us.” Adding that various investigation reports have declared them as “genuine” they “should get what is ours.” “...they have put it in paper but not implemented it in spirit,” he lamented.
Stories form the protestors
Today at the meeting several aggrieved teachers who are participating at the indefinite hunger strike expressed their views and shared their stories of hardship.
One of them said that the government has to look into the problems of the public but they are “deaf to our problems (sic).” “...they were elected to look into our grievances.” She also said: “We will fight till death and we are with Akali.”
Among the agitators was a missionary, who came to participate in the agitation on behalf of his wife. A Christian missionary by profession, his wife has been aiding him financially to carry on his works in Assam. However, he said to have stopped his missionary work because of financial constraints.
When the association decided to hunger strike, another one said, he called his family members and told them he is leaving for the protest to get back his job. He solemnly swore that he will not go back to his family without his job. “...I will die for my service.”
Also, an aggrieved teacher said he was appointed in 2002 before the Nuiland DIS office was created and he was appointed as head teacher in 2005. However, he was tagged as a “bogus teacher.” The irony is, this year he has been appointed as Booth Level Officer, on which he said: “...the government appointed me as BLO and I have to go for duties with no salary but I have no choice left since my job is in abeyance.”
A mother of two also said ‘we have all the qualifications to be teachers and as directed by the government we have even completed our BEd.’ However, ‘we have been tagged as bogus and government is not paying any attention to our plea.’
In solidarity with aggrieved teachers
Some of the leaders of NGOs also spoke during the meeting. They gave them assurance that they will stand by them.
The president of Naga Women Hoho Dimapur Hokheli said it grieves her after seeing in real and hearing the condition of the aggrieved teachers, assuring that Naga Women Hoho will stand by them. “Our government is a people’s government and if they do not hear you it is like not hearing the Nagas as a whole,” she said.
The president of Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum Hokiye Aye said injustice has been meted out to the teachers and the forum will appeal to the government for immediate action. “Justice you seek is not just for today but for tomorrow too. We are with you till the finishing touch,” he said.
Also, the president of DCCI Dimapur said he is not condemning the government but “government has repeatedly done so many mistakes.”
Interestingly, the president of Western Sumi Students’ Union Daniel said that for the past three years, the union has been tackling this bogus teachers’ issue since the students were the ones who were suffering. He defined bogus as those teachers who are unqualified and got appointed by using fake certificates. “...the main culprits are those officers who are hiding away,” he said. He also clarified that WSSU is not against anyone but it wants welfare of students.
President of All Nagaland Adhoc Teachers Association Hekiye said as promised the cabinet has fulfilled all eight memos except the first one which reads: “Find Report on the Departmental Verification Committee on the Bogus/Wrongful appointment of Teachers under the SIT findings and Recommendation thereof.”
In continuation, executive member of Naga Council Ntsemo Ngullie said: “...it is the fault of the government. The question of bogus does not arise after so many screenings.”
He also said the government should pay back the price of 3 yrs “torture,” adding that the Naga Council will be submitting a memorandum to the government.
