Dimapur, April 23 (MExN): A number of frontal organizations led by the Naga Mothers’ Association (NAM) and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today increased pressure on the Government of Nagaland to redress the grievances and issues raised by the agitating Aggrieved Teachers’ Association of Nagaland (ATAN). The State is criticized for procrastinating, yet again, on a major issue and a demand for Vigilance Commission to probe Education officers has been raised again.
Separate press releases were received here from the NSM, NSF, core committee of the Ao, Kyong and Sumi students’ union of Dimapur and the Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU) today, sympathizing with the grievances of the agitating “aggrieved teachers.” However, on the flip side, the NSF has also demanded that the state government immediate initiate action to identify the doubtful and ad-hoc category teachers and termination of the “irregular teachers.”
The NMA issued a copy of a letter addressed to the chief minister of Nagaland seeking his immediate intervention into the ongoing hunger strike by the ATAN in Dimapur.
The organization stated in its letter: “The NMA had earlier placed before your esteemed office a representation on the numerous anomalies in the department of Education and demand for appropriate action against erring officers and teachers with fake certificates etc. The present ongoing crisis of hunger strike by the aggrieved teachers is a serious concern for the fact that the State government has been procrastinating on resolving the issue and keeping the Cabinet decision in abeyance, holding the fate of these teachers and their families and children at stake, without salaries for the past years.”
The NMA has demanded that the “ATAN issue” be immediately taken up as an agenda of the Cabinet. “The NMA has made its stand very clear it is against any teachers with fake certificates. However, it is highly questionable that many such cases have been reconsidered for appointments till date and genuine, verified and academically qualified teachers who have all served for several years are kept at the mercy of the blunder made by the Government and department itself,” the letter said. The delay will also create frustration among the Naga youth, it added, who have served to the best and are deserving of justice “before they become overaged for further jobs.”
It was also informed that the NMA met with the Minister for School Education Neiwang Konyak today and appealed for immediate action. The organization also reiterated its demand for punitive action against all erring departmental officials “including persons outside the system.” The State Vigilance Commission must identify and initiate appropriate steps to identify and charge-sheet all those involved in the scam with full impartiality in the interest of the justice, the NMA added.
Also, the NSF issued a press release sympathizing with the suffering of the agitating members of the ATAN. The federation said it would hold the state government responsible ‘for any untoward occurrences out of the strike’ and has squarely blamed the government for the mess in the Education department. The NSF has demanded that the State immediately act to “authenticate” the doubtful and ad-hoc categories of teachers and terminate the irregular teachers.
The core committee of the Ao, Kyong and Sumi students’ union Dimapur have also echoed the demand for the government intervention. The committee issued a press release stating the issue should be resolved with urgency. The committee criticized the State for being irresponsive an ignoring the grievances of the ATN members who are underground mental, physical and financial hardships.
Likewise the WSSU expressed deep concern at the current situation whether teachers and their families have been affected. While extending sympathy with the ATAN members, the WSSU noted that even the Nagaland Cabinet had decided “in favor of these teachers” but have been ‘kept in abeyance.’ The WSSU appeals to the state government not to go further to let the agitators prove that they are “geneius again” (sic). The WSSU extends prayer support to those agitators who have been hospitalized.
ATAN Combine Solidarity Meeting
The Aggrieved Teachers Association Nagaland(ATAN) hereby convenes a combine solidarity meeting at City Clock Tower, Dimapur on the 25th of April,2012 from 10:00 AM. Therefore, all the Aggrieved teachers,parents, dependents, wellwishers and sympathisers are invited to the said meeting. This was informed in a press note issued by ATAN Executives.
