NSSATA stages sit-in protest outside NLA

Fourth session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly was greeted by the sit in silent protest staged by the Nagaland SSA Teachers’ Association (NSSATA) at the entrance gate of the NLA Thursday morning. Over 300 SSA teachers wearing black scarf (covered their mouth), held placards some of which read “there is legality in our appointment”, “we have performed our duties”, “we deserve our rights”, “your ignorance is killing the future of the underprivileged students”, “much law but little justice” and “where is our pending salaries and arrears?”
It may be recalled that chief minister and DAN candidate for Nagaland Parliamentary seat Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday claimed that despite the small plan size budget, the state government managed to bring development to the state and could pay all salaries to the state government employees. NSSATA office bearers informed that earlier government had called for negotiation however the teachers said they were firm with their demand and would continue the agitation till their demands were met.
Sources added that on the expiry of its first agitation March 22, the teachers would further intensify the agitation by launching another “indefinite” boycott of classes.
NSSATA launched the agitation by boycotting classes since March 10 due to non-payment of salaries and 2013 arrears.
Meanwhile, Nagaland governor Dr. Ashwani Kumar during his speech on the first day of the fourth assembly session of the 12th NLA said at the core of the planning and perspective thinking of the youth of the state, the state endeavoured to provide quality education to the students.
He also said government has decided to rationalize teacher deployment in all government schools for which the exercise would be completed shortly.
The governor added that the state government has decided to upgrade 22 government high schools to higher secondary schools during 2013-14 as several government primary schools have already been upgraded to government middle schools and 11 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas have been established in Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire.