Media Cell
NGTA, Nagaland
The 2010 and 2013 batches of primary and graduate teachers were recruited in full compliance with all standard operating procedures established by the District Selection Board. The process began with official advertisements issued by the Department of School Education, followed by a competitive examination, viva voce, and subsequent clearances from the P&AR Department, the Finance Department, and the State Cabinet.
Importantly, their appointment orders did not contain any reference to contractual engagement or termination clauses. On the contrary, the orders explicitly specified regular pay scales. For the 2010 batch, provisions included deductions towards GPF and GIS, while for the 2013 batch, the orders detailed the applicable pay band, grade pay, and a 10% contribution towards the National Pension System (NPS) based on total emoluments. This supports that the teachers of this particular group are regular employees from the inception.
From the date of their appointment, these teachers have been treated as regular appointees, entitled to all benefits accorded to members of the regular state cadre. These include increments under the 7th ROP and career progression under the MACP scheme, as governed by the Nagaland School Education Service Rules, 2017.
Mainstreaming into the State Education Cadre
The Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association (2010 &2013 Batches) comprising 2293 members were formally mainstreamed into the State Education Cadre vide Order No. DSE/SSA-RMSA/COM/18-86/2021 dated 2nd September 2022 w.e.f. 21.04.2022, pursuant to Cabinet approval conveyed vide No. CAB-2/2013 dated 21.04.2022.
The mainstreaming order was issued after fulfilling the criteria mentioned in the Office Memorandum No.CAB-2/2013(Pt) Dated Kohima, the 5th October 2018 which states, “The Cabinet deliberated on the report of the Committee constituted to look into the matters relating to SSA & RMSA Teachers of 2010 & 2013 batches, as per the decision taken in the meeting held on 26-09-2018, and decided in principle to bring the teachers of all the 2010 & 2013 batches of SSA & RMSA Teachers into the mainstream of the School Education Cadre with a condition that all the schools will be linked with biometric attendance and linking of Aadhaar number of all the teachers will be linked to the same which has also been decided by the Cabinet on 8th March, 2018. The Cabinet also directed the Department to club/merge all the neighbouring schools which are not performing or producing nil or have negligible enrollment. Further, the Cabinet directed the Department to frame guidelines or find a feasible solution to give golden handshake to the teachers who are under qualified or untrained teachers.”
Fulfilling the above Cabinet Office Memorandum, another Cabinet Meeting was held vide no.CAB-2/2013 Dated, Kohima the 21st April 2022 where the proposal for the mainstreaming of SSA and RMSA Teachers (2010 & 2013) batches into the School Education Cadre was approved in principle.
Reason for commencement of the protests
However, even after the lapse of more than 3 years, their salaries continue to be drawn under CSS funding rather than the appropriate State Account Head applicable on par with other regular State Cadre employees.
Over the years, several representations and appeals have been made for inclusion of their salary component under the State Non-Development Expenditure. In the absence of any concrete response, the Association issued a final 7-day ultimatum on February 16, 2026 to the Principal Director (DoSE), followed by a two-day pen-down strike from February 24 to 26, 2026. However, the matter remains unresolved.
Therefore, the Association was left with no choice but to resort to a peaceful and democratic form of protest with effect from February 26 to March 3, 2026 at the Directorate of School Education, Nagaland.
Protest on Hold
However, upon the intervention of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF), who assured the Association that they would take up the matter with utmost sincerity at the earliest until justice is delivered and the mandate of the members was duly considered. Accordingly, it was resolved to place the protest on hold until further notice.
Acknowledgement
The Nagaland Government Teachers Association 2010 & 2013 expresses its sincere appreciation to all who extended support and cooperation during 4-days of democratic protest at DoSE Kohima.
NGTA particularly acknowledge the District Administration Kohima, including the Deputy Commissioner and officials, law enforcement personnel, and the support of the Angami Public Organisation, Kohima Village Youth Organisation, Kohima Village Council, and the Bayavu Youth Organisation. We also thank the media fraternity for their responsible coverage.
