Guardians' body back teachers' demand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 01, 2011:
Supporting the demand of the agitating teachers, All Manipur Students Guardians' Organisation (AMSGO) has exerted pressure on the Government of Manipur to honour the teachers working in from primary to higher secondary level by extending Central 6th Pay in accordance to the basic principles of National Education Policy, 1986 being implemented all over the country.
Addressing a press conference in this connection at its office today, AMSGO advisor H Kulla pointed out that to bring about development in the education system of the country, the Government of India has been constituting various Commissions and the UGC has been paying special attention.
So, in accordance to the basic principles laid down in the National Education Policy adopted in 1986, the Government of Manipur should honour and encourage teachers in the State from the primary to higher secondary school level by extending Central 6th Pay as being done in other parts of the country, he demanded.
Working president of AMSGO L Chaoba said that the Organisation is in support of the fast unto death agitation being launched by the Council of Teachers' Association (COTA) since January 14 in pursuance of the demand for implementation of Central 6th Pay in toto.
He pointed out that till January 31, police have taken into custody 97 teachers who were on fast onto death agitation and if the agitation of the teachers continue, the students are going to suffer serious setback.
Justifying the demand of the agitating teachers, Chaoba asserted that agitating teachers are not asking for any higher pay but what is due to get by them.
The representatives of COTA and the Government of Manipur had signed a MoU on May 19, 2010 to the effect of implementing the Central 6th Pay in toto.
But sidelining the MoU, the Government has come up with an order offering a new pay scale.
COTA opposed this new pay scale, Chaoba explained.
General secretary of AMSGO Oinam Yaima, who was also present during the press conference, pointed out that the ongoing stand off between COTA and the Government has given a serious impact on the education of the students.
So, it would be advisable to come to an agreement between the pay scale being offered by the State Government and what the COTA has been demanding.
He further pointed out that the current pay scale of the Primary teachers is Rs 4500 and what the agitating teachers have demanded is Rs 6500.Similarly, the current pay scale of Graduate teachers is Rs 4500.While the Government has offered Rs 5,500, the teachers have demanded Rs 7450. In case of secondary teachers (lecturers), the current pay scale is Rs 6,500, the Government has offered Rs 7450 and the demand of the agitating teachers is Rs 7500. In an effort to bring about a solution to the stand off between the Government and COTA, AMSGO would like to propose the pay scale of Rs 5000 for the Primary teachers, Rs 6500 for the Graduate teachers and Rs 7500 for Secondary teachers (lecturers), Yaima said.