ZEO Zone-II's failure to pay salary makes teachers angry
Teachers ransack officeHueiyen News Service
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 19 2009: The Zonal Education Office (ZEO) Zone-II Imphal East district, Porompat was ransacked today by irate teachers on not being paid their salary before the Ningol Chakkouba festival.

Irate teachers stormed the ZEO-Zone-II office this afternoon at about 1 pm when they found that they were no going to get their salary for four months on the eve of the festival.

However, the officials had assured the teachers of paying their salary before the festival.

The teachers alleged that the officials of the ZEO Zone-II office failed to collect the amount of salary from the Treasury before the festival because of their negligence.

The angry teachers damaged tables and chairs in the office chamber of the ZEO, Sanatombi and DDO, Inaocha, and also scattered the documents of the office.

Some of the angry teachers dragged out tables, chairs, type writers and water filters from inside the rooms and piled them up on the ground, and set on fire.

Some teachers ransacked the almirah and broke window panes.

Police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot to control the mob.

Later, Education Minister, L Jayentakumar, Director, Education, Harekrishna and Additional Director also arrived there.

One of the protesting teachers said that 1300 teachers under the ZEO- Zone II have not been getting their salaries for four months from July.

Angry teachers throng ZEO Zone-II office at Porompat; Director Education Harekrishna talking to a teacher; scene of burned and destroyed furniture on the campus

Due to the non-payment of their salary, they are facing difficulties in meeting day-to-day expenditures of the family.

They have been urging the authority to clear their pending salary.

Keeping faith in the assurance given by the authority on clearing their salary before Ningol Chakkouba, the teachers gathered at the parade ground of the 1st MR today.

But, none of the officials of the ZEO including the DDO turned up there.

Unable to wait for the arrival of the officials, the teachers proceeded towards the ZEO office located at Porompat to enquire about the reason behind the non-payment of their salary.

But in total contrast to the expectation of the teachers, the officials there sought excuse from the teachers saying that the pay bills had been submitted to the Treasury office.

Therefore, they will not be able to distribute the pay today.

That made the teachers really mad.

At the same time, the ZEO and the DDO were also not found in the office, which added fuel to the anger of the teachers.

They then ransacked the office chambers.

Even clerical staffs were not found in the office.

Later, Education Minister, L Jayentakumar, Director and Additional Director rushed to the spot and tried to calm down the protesting teachers.

The teachers lamented that right from the peon to the top officials of the Education Department were not sincere in discharging their duties.

They also alleged that the teachers were facing serious problems due to the negligence of the officials in discharging their duties.

They requested the Minister to rectify the irregularities in the office at the earliest.