All Nagaland Government Primary Teachers’ Association (ANGPTA) has called for immediate government intervention to address the grievances and other issues of SSA teachers.
ANGPTA general secretary Hoshika H Sumi, in a statement, also expressed concern at the inauspicious start of the 2018-19 academic session, which began with delayed disbursement of textbooks, assembly election process, delayed announcement of HSLC and HSSLC results and now the ongoing pen down agitation, with chances of more stirs by various aggrieved teachers in the immediate future.
According to the association, it is a matter of great embarrassment to disclose one’s professional secrets and grievances in the public domain. But time and again the teachers appointed under SSA are being subjected to this harassment and humiliation due to the apathy of the government in addressing the core issue of giving recognition to SSA teachers on par with other state government employees as per the conditions mentioned in their appointment orders, he pointed out.
ANGPTA asserted that just as it is the duty of every teacher to teach with utmost sincerity, so is it the duty of the government to provide regular and timely salary and all other benefits to all its employees without discrimination.
Justifying the pen-down strike, the association explained that the SSA teachers, who are neither less professional nor less qualified, are delivering and rendering their services to the best of their abilities and insincerity like any other government teachers. But the constant harassment and victimisation by not releasing their salary and other entitlements on time has pushed them to the edge, forcing them to resort to such an agitation to obtain their rights.
The situation has created an unhealthy, demoralising and de-motivating environment in the schools, thereby making children pay the ultimate price with their future for no fault of theirs, the statement alleged.
Stating that the situation warrants immediate intervention of the government, ANGPTA appealed to the authorities concerned to utilise their vast experience and powers to positively address the recurrent issues related to the SSA teachers with utmost sincerity and wisdom.
The association also appealed to all stakeholders to ensure that the interests of children were taken care of, “whose education and future are entrusted to us, so that we don’t drown them in the whirlpool”.