Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Sep 4: Agitated with non-disbursement of five months’ salary, the teachers working under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan on Monday announced to observe Teachers’ Day with black badges as a symbol of silent protest against the state government.
This was informed by Central Executive Committee, Arunachal Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Association (CEC ARMSATA) President Taba Billow in a press conference on Monday.
Billow said that teachers working under RMSA are being repeatedly deprived by the government in disbursing monthly salary.
“We are yet to get our salary since last April (2017). How can we work without salaries in far-flung areas”, Billow said, while also informing that teachers, especially non-APST teachers posted at interior places live in worse conditions”.
Claiming that they have repeatedly submitted representations to the Director of School Education, without any results, he said that the Education and Finance departments are passing the buck on their monthly salaries.
The CEC ARMSATA further informed that a dharna for one day at the Deputy Commissioner and DDSE offices across the state would be their modus oprandi of the second phase of agitation, followed by an indefinite strike if the government fails to address their demands.
ARMSATA Vice President Tasser Anung said that though the government has enhanced RMSA teachers salary from Rs 15,000 to Rs 26,000 in principal, it is yet to be implemented .
Reportedly, more than 350 RMSA teachers are manning various government schools across the state.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Governor, P B Acharya and Chief Minister Pema Khandu have both greeted the state’s teaching fraternity on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.
The Governor in his address said, “Teaching is not just another profession but is a divine responsibility to guide and enlighten their students. Teachers should be the ‘Game Changers’ and socially accountable. The students, when they come out, must be an asset to the society, employable, create wealth out of our natural resources”, the Governor underscored.
He however, stated that the greed for easy money has changed the scenario and education has become a business. ‘Government appointed teachers are getting good salary compared to private school teachers but some of the government teachers escape from their duties by appointing proxy teachers against in their place of postings. Even though it is a small section of government teachers carrying out such practices, such practice should be stopped’, he added.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu in his address said that teachers posted in remote areas of the state despite facing hardships like lack of accommodation and communication have proved more than their mettle in educating and churning out intellectuals over the years.
“Our teachers need more appreciation and recognition than their counterparts elsewhere”, he said and hoped that the Teacher’s Day would re-instil in state’s teachers a sense of responsibility towards students and re-dedicate for the cause of the world’s noblest profession.
