Members of the All Nagaland Ad-hoc Teachers’ Group (ANATG) 2015 batch on Monday began an indefinite hunger strike as their ongoing protest demanding regularisation of services entered the fifth day without any clear response from the state government. The teachers have been staging demonstrations since February 4 outside the Secretariat and later at the NSF Solidarity Park in Kohima.
Speaking to media persons, ANATG core committee member Zuchanbemo Ezung said that the decision to launch the hunger strike was taken collectively by the entire 2015 batch after days of peaceful protest failed to produce any positive outcome. He stated that the agitation remained peaceful, but teachers felt compelled to intensify their protest as their long-pending demand had not yet been addressed. The hunger strike is being held outside the NSF Solidarity Park near the NSF gate.
Ezung also expressed appreciation to the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) for extending support to the protesting teachers. ANSTA has written to the Commissioner and Secretary of School Education, urging the government to resolve the issue at the earliest and take immediate steps toward regularisation of the ad-hoc teachers.
In its appeal, the association said many teachers belonging to the ANATG have served the education department for more than a decade, often working under difficult conditions and without proper job security or financial stability. It stated that earlier formation of a High Powered Committee (HPC) had created hope for a solution, but the absence of concrete outcomes even after a long period has led to frustration among the teachers. According to the association, continued delay has affected teacher morale and also had an impact on the academic environment in government schools.
Meanwhile, members of the ANATG have expressed dissatisfaction over a directive issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima allowing the hunger strike only between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Some teachers said that fasting as a form of protest is a democratic and non-violent method of expressing grievances and that such time restrictions were not imposed during earlier protests. They said limiting the duration of the hunger strike was not justified and that the group had formally written to the district administration regarding the matter.
Protesting teachers maintained that their agitation was not based on new demands but on a long-pending issue that had already been acknowledged by the government in previous discussions. They said repeated assurances without concrete action had forced them to continue the agitation. The group also emphasised that it remains open to dialogue with the government and hopes that discussions will lead to an early resolution.
