COTA starts fast unto death stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 19, 2011: Decrying the failure of the State Government to implement the 6th Central Revised Pay recommendations in toto, as demanded, despite launching various forms of agitation under the joint aegis of Council of Teachers' Association (COTA), teachers from Primary level to Higher Secondary School level have begun a fast unto death agitation from today.

In all 13 teachers have started fasting in front of Madhu Girls' School at Keishampat here for the first leg of the stir.

The agitating teachers have made it clear that the 13 teachers would continue with their fast unto death protest and if they are arrested by the police, another group of teachers will carry on the stir.

M Debendra Singh, who is one of the teachers participating in the fast unto death stir, informed that two teachers from each of school from primary to higher secondary level have been nominated to carry on the stir.

Even if the nominated teachers are on their fast, the remaining teachers would ensure conduct of normal classes in their respective schools so as not to affect the academic calendar.

However, if the Government does not listen to their demands even after the fast unto death stir, we may be forced to resume cease work strike and stop taking classes, Debendra warned.

It may be recalled here that in pursuance of its demand for implementation of 6th Central Revised Pay in toto, COTA, for the first time submitted a memorandum to the Government on January 19, 2009. As the Government had not given any positive response to the memorandum, COTA launched various form of agitation.

On May 5, 2010, Government of Manipur issued an order stating that instead of the 6th Central Revised Pay, the pay structure of the State Government would be implemented.

Rejecting the pay structure being offered by the Government, COTA surrendered the order to the Governor on May 7, 2010. Later on, COTA went ahead with launching various agitations as the Government failed to implement the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in connection with implementation of 6th Central Revised Pay.

The agitating teachers have asserted that their fast unto death stir is a test to find out whether the Secular Progressive Front Government is still there nor not.

The Government should understand that no State could be run without the teachers.

The teachers are not demanding more pay but for what is due for them under the 6th Central Revised Pay recommendations.

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