.jpeg)
Sit-in protest kept in abeyance
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 23
The Nagaland government has decided to constitute a High-Level Committee to examine the grievances and charter of demands of RMSA 2016 batch of teachers, leading to the immediate suspension of their agitation.
The RMSA 2016 batch of teachers, who have been pressing for their pay scale have decided to join the committee as proposed by the State government and to keep their sit-in protest in abeyance.
The sit-in protest of the Nagaland RMSA 2016 batch teachers have entered its 12th day on September 23.
Following the meeting held this evening in the presence of the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha and Commissioner and Secretary, Kevileno Angami, the teachers have agreed to be part of the Committee as proposed in the meeting held earlier.
According to the School Education Department, Nagaland official circular, the High-Level Committee will comprise representatives from the School Education Department, Directorate of School Education, Samagra Shiksha, Finance Department, and the Justice and Law department.
Representatives from the All Nagaland School Teachers' Association (ANSTA) and the RMSA 2016 batch will also be co-opted into the committee, it said.
To expedite the process, a Sub-Committee headed by the Secretary of the School Education Department will be formed. This Sub-Committee will include officials from the Directorate of School Education and Samagra Shiksha, along with two representatives from ANSTA and three from the RMSA 2016 batch.
The Sub-Committee will study the charter of demands of the RMSA 2016 batch and prepare the preliminary Report for submission to the High Level Committee to expedite the process.
The entire process is slated to be completed within six months, it stated.
The meeting concluded with an assurance from the RMSA-2016 batch to keep their agitation in abeyance with immediate effect, it added.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, RMSA Spokesperson, Renbemo L Patton said the decision was taken after the government assured them that their charter of demands would be examined.
Among other points highlighted were the mainstreaming of RMSA 2016 teachers, pay band as per post-creation notification, and the committee to finalise its report within six months, with approvals from the Finance department, P&AR and Law & Justice, he reiterated.
Patton further stated that it has lucidly stated to the government that the committee’s recommendations must not contradict the Court's judgment.
He added that while the demand for salary enhancement has been accepted, it will remain a temporary arrangement until the review petition is resolved.
“We have put forth our conditions, and they have been kind enough to accept and implement them within the stipulated time frame,” Patton stated.
He also clarified that while the agitation has not been called off, it has been kept “in advance,” stating that the protest will resume if the assurances are not honoured.
“The government has accepted our Charter of Demands. Now, it is their responsibility to implement it with sincerity and sensitivity,” Patton remarked.
