Kohima: More than 350 teachers under the Nagaland RMSA Teachers’ Association (NRMSATA) 2016 have launched an indefinite sit-in demonstration outside the Directorate of School Education in Kohima, pressing the state government to address their long-pending demands.
The agitation, which began on Monday, comes after repeated appeals to the government failed to yield results.
Association spokesperson Renbemo L. Patton said the protest was necessitated by the state’s reluctance to implement a Supreme Court ruling that upholds their service benefits and pay parity.
“This is not our first step. We had exhausted every peaceful and democratic avenue before resorting to this non-violent sit-in,” Patton said.
The current protest marks the second phase of their agitation, following a pen-down strike on August 25.
The RMSA-2016 teachers argue that their exclusion from equal pay and service recognition amounts to a violation of both law and fairness.
They demand official acknowledgment of their appointment benefits dating back to 2016 and immediate implementation of the ROP 2017 pay scale, which includes regular increments.
Their demands mirror those already extended to SSA-RMSA teachers appointed between 2010 and 2013.
ALSO READ: Meghalaya Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira quits, election on September 12
The association has urged civil society groups, student bodies, and workers’ organisations to extend support, insisting that the fight is not just for teachers but also for the principle of justice.
Concern over students’ welfare remains high.
“We are deeply worried about the children in the 133 government schools where we teach. Our intention is not to disrupt their education, but we have been forced into this situation after being denied our rights,” Patton said.
The sit-in will continue indefinitely until the government addresses their demands.
