The All Nagaland Adhoc Teachers’ Group (ANATG), comprised of the 2015 batch, initiated an indefinite hunger strike outside the Capital Convention Centre in Kohima, demanding the immediate regularization of 1,166 teachers. This protest marks the eighth day of ongoing agitation, which began on February 4 in a subdued manner with daily gatherings at Naga Solidarity Park. Currently, 15 male volunteers are participating in the hunger strike without any plans for replacements, a departure from prior strikes in 2018 and 2022.
The Nagaland government provided an update on the long-delayed regularization process for the ANATG-2015 teachers, who were appointed on a contract or adhoc basis between the late 1990s and 2012. An official statement indicated that a suitability test was conducted in May 2017, as per P&AR Office Memorandums from 2008 and 2016, which allowed for regularization after three years of continuous service, contingent upon passing the test and receiving cabinet approval. All 1,166 teachers who cleared the test were recommended for regularization, with a cabinet memorandum submitted on October 26, 2017.
However, the regularization process faced delays due to orders from the Gauhati High Court, which prohibited the state government from proceeding with the regularization of contract/ad-hoc employees in July 2017 and August 2018. In August 2018, the cabinet elected to postpone regularization until the court’s decision was finalized, although the salaries of ad-hoc teachers were doubled during this period.
In 2022, a High Powered Committee was established, submitting its findings the following year. By February 2024, the cabinet adopted a policy for the regularization of contract/ad-hoc employees, followed by an Assembly resolution. A one-time regularization policy was announced on March 16, 2024, applicable to employees appointed to sanctioned posts before June 6, 2016, with a Screening Committee set up to oversee the process. The School Education Department has submitted documentation for 2,487 ad-hoc/contract employees to the Screening Committee, which is presently engaged in verifying these documents. Despite various discussions involving ANATG representatives and government officials, the teachers persist with their hunger strike, citing inadequate timelines and decisive actions regarding their demands.
