Imphal, April 4 (NNN): The Council of Teachers’ Association (COTA) on Saturday informed that they would be launching series of agitations across the state of Manipur from April 6 owing to the failure to fulfill their demand by the government in the set deadline. The agitations would include cease work strike and sit-in-protests.
The COTA had been demanding the adoption of 6th Central Pay/Central Civil Services (Revised) Pay Rules-2008. COTA comprising of All Manipur Elementary School Teachers’ Association (AMESTA), All Manipur Government Graduate Teachers’ Association (AMGOGTA), All Manipur Secondary School Teachers’ Association (AMSSTA) and All Manipur Government Higher Secondary Lecturers’ Welfare Association (AMGHSLWA) had set a deadline for March 29 to fulfill their demand.
Speaking to media persons, M. Joy Kumar, co-convenor, COTA stated that an ultimatum was submitted to chief minister, O. Ibobi Singh and other concerned officials on January 19 to fulfill their demand by March 29 this year. However, the government did not pay any heed to the demands, fumes M. Joy Kumar.
Informing the schedules of sit-in-protest in all the districts of the state except Chandel district, M. Joy Kumar said that it would be first launched in Imphal West district on April 9 at Khoyathong High School, Imphal East district on April 11, Bishnupur district on April 13, Thoubal district on April 15, Senapati district on April 17, Ukhrul district on April 19 and Tamenglong district on April 23. One day token strike (cease work strike) would be launched across the state on April 6, added M. Joy Kumar.
Ch. Santa Kumar, general secretary, AMESTA stated if the government still remains mute despite all these agitations, then the association would resort to court- arrest or ‘Jail Bharo’. While mentioning that the teachers in other states had already obtained the pay, he stated that they are only demanding the teachers’ fundamental rights and not demanding extra money from the government.