Teachers-govt impasse widen, COTA demands CM's resignation
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 18 2011: The impasse between the teachers and government has widen as striking teachers body has said that he is telling lie to cover up his weakness while refuting Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh's statement of state having no means to meet their demand.

Ibobi had, on Thursday to talking to reporters, said that the state as no financial resource to meet the extra expenditure to be incurred while paying the sixth revised Central pays to the teachers.

It will be better to resign as Chief Minister instead agreeing to teachers demand as it will throw the state into the pool of heavy financial deficit.

Reacting to the statement of the CM, the striking teachers' body, Council of Teachers' Association (COTA) said the revelation of the CM is nothing but propaganda to blame the teachers.

COTA feels ashamed of him.

Government had already agreed by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the striking teachers' body.

By not keeping his promise, Ibobi proved himself an unqualified leader, said Sirajuddin Shah, the convener of COTA in a statement.

Dishonouring teachers is same as neglecting human resources.

Neglecting human resource will bring nothing loss of the state.

So, it will be better for Ibobi to tender resignation, he calls for.

Chief Minister, revelation of having few students in government schools, the COTA said that it is not the fault of the teachers but for the government.

When government's education policy failed why teachers should be blamed, he asked.

Ibobi's revelation of not fulfilling the demands of the teachers is same like abolition of government schools.

Is it the hidden agenda of the SPF government to abolish government schools? Had the government took up steps to abolish government hospitals when no patient admitted, he asked.

On what basis, government is going to pay lower pays.

Is there any order of the state to give lower pay to the teachers of the schools having less number of students, he went to ask the Chief Minister.

With regard to pay scales of the teachers, the basic of Rs 4,500 has been paying to the primary teachers since 1999.The trained teachers are getting higher pays from earlier.

His revelation of paying the basic of Rs 4,500-7,000 has been enjoying by the teachers since 1999.This shows that CM is telling lie to the people.

While paying revised sixth pay bands to the teachers, the additional fund to be incurred is only Rs 1.50 crore against CM observation of Rs five crore.

While paying sixth pay band to 5112 primary teacher the financial implication is Rs 1.2 crore while it is Rs 27 lakh for 3975 graduate teachers and Rs 1.50 lakh for 424 lecturers of higher secondary schools, he calculated.

Government has hiked the salaries of MLAs from Rs 27,250 to Rs 1,00,667.If teachers are not be paid, then MLAs should not draw the revised pay, he suggested.

"We have no fear of resigning as teachers.

The ongoing fast-unto-death stir itself is the proof that teachers can sacrifice their lives for truth.

We will continue out stir till our demand is fulfilled," he said.

Reaffirming the stand of the teachers, he added CM should bear the moral responsibility of dying government schools.

Meanwhile, with 24 teachers picked up today, police have so far arrested 179 teachers and put behind bars.

The teachers have been launching the fast-unto-death since January 14 .

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