Kohima: The All Nagaland Ad-hoc Teachers Group (ANATG)–2015 Batch on Friday decided to temporarily suspend its indefinite hunger strike even as it continued its agitation demanding regularisation of services for 1,166 members. The protest entered its ninth day.
The decision to put the fast on hold came after the Nagaland government informed the group that their demand was “under active consideration” and appealed to them to resume duties in the interest of students.
The hunger strike, which began on Wednesday, has been suspended with immediate effect but may be resumed if necessary, ANATG leaders said. They clarified that while the fast has been paused, the broader agitation has not been withdrawn.
The protest venue has also been shifted from Naga Solidarity Park and the Capital Convention Centre to the Directorate of School Education.
In a letter issued on Thursday, Principal Director of School Education Shashank Pratap Singh acknowledged receiving representations and memoranda from ANATG-2015 regarding service regularisation. The department recognised the contribution of ad-hoc teachers in sustaining education across Nagaland, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
At the same time, the department expressed serious concern over the ongoing cease-work, stating that it had led to prolonged disruption of academic activities in several government schools. This, it said, had adversely affected students, especially those preparing for the HSLC and HSSLC examinations.
The letter stated that the teachers’ demands were being actively examined and that high-level meetings had been convened to address the matter within a definite timeframe.
It further mentioned that the Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department, in a communication dated February 11, had sought additional documents for 235 ad-hoc employees — including 61 from Group A and B and 174 from Group C and D — for further scrutiny by the Screening Committee tasked with examining cases for regularisation.
Stating that necessary steps had already been initiated, the principal director urged the teachers to withdraw the cease-work and resume normal classes in the interest of students.
In response, the ANATG Core Committee informed the department on Friday that while the hunger strike would remain on hold, the agitation would continue until the government announces a specific date for regularisation.
The group has also requested that 10 of its members be officially deputed to monitor the documentation and scrutiny process related to regularisation.
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Despite suspending the fast, teachers continued their protest at the Directorate premises, holding banners and placards and raising slogans demanding immediate regularisation.
ANATG leaders said active agitation would pause over the weekend due to government holidays and resume on Monday. They added that their future course of action would depend on the government’s response to their demands.
