Salary issue

[ Bini Yurom ]

ITANAGAR, 6 Jul: The Arunachal Pradesh Teacher Educators Association (APTEA) on Monday announced that it will launch the third and final phase of its democratic movement – an indefinite pen-down strike – from 9 July if the state government fails to provide a written assurance by 8 July on resolving the long-pending issue of irregular salaries.

Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here, APTEA president Tayon Dai said the salaries of teacher educators have remained irregular since the 2019-20 financial year. Describing the issue as nearly a decade old, he said the association’s only demand is the fixation of monthly salaries, which it believes is the only permanent solution to ensure regular payment.

Dai recalled that, after repeated representations had yielded no result, the association had served an ultimatum to the government on 12 May, seeking a written assurance within 15 to 16 days. When no response was received, the association observed a peaceful pen-down protest on 29 May, followed by a second phase on 4 and 5 June, without damaging public property or disrupting law and order.

They had planned to begin an indefinite strike from 15 June, but deferred the agitation after holding talks with the adviser to the education minister, Mutchu Mithi, who assured the association that the government had taken the issue seriously and was making sincere efforts to resolve it.

Following Education Minister’s PD Sona’s return, the association met him on 23 June. Dai said the meeting lasted nearly one and a half hours and the association expected a concrete assurance. However, the minister informed them that the government was still working on a mechanism to address the issue.

“We do not have faith in temporary mechanisms. Monthly salary fixation is the only permanent solution,” Dai said, adding that the association sought a written assurance along with a tentative timeline for implementation.

He alleged that the official minutes of the 23 June meeting, handed over the following day, did not reflect the actual discussions or assurances made during the meeting. Calling the document disappointing, the association convened a virtual general body meeting on 26 June, involving its advisory board, principals and senior members.

The general body unanimously resolved that the association would continue pursuing its demand and gave the government another opportunity to respond. Accordingly, the association submitted a detailed reply on 27 June, highlighting the discrepancies in the meeting’s minutes and reiterating its demand for a written assurance by 8 July.

Dai said the association remains open to dialogue and is willing to meet the government whenever called. However, if no written assurance is received by the deadline, the association would proceed with an indefinite pen-down strike in accordance with its standard operating procedure (SOP), which has already been prepared and shared with members.

Highlighting the financial aspect, Dai said that the state government already bears 40 per cent of the salary expenditure, while the remaining requirement is about Rs 5.59 crore annually. He urged the government to allocate the amount and ensure that teacher educators receive their salaries on time like other government employees do.

He said the continued delay in salary payment has affected the morale and efficiency of teacher educators, who play a vital role in improving the quality of teacher education in the state.

Assuring the public that the proposed agitation would remain peaceful and democratic, Dai said the protest would involve only a pen-down strike and would not affect public property or law and order. He appealed to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, Sona’s adviser Mutchu Mithi, Education Commissioner Amjad Tak and other authorities concerned to resolve the issue permanently before the 8 July deadline.