Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh Teacher Educators’ Association (APTEA) on Wednesday announced the second phase of its pen-down protest, scheduled to be observed on June 4 and 5, intensifying its agitation over the prolonged delay in salary disbursement of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIET) employees. It also reiterated its demand for salary disbursement of DIET employees through the state head under the state budget.
The association also warned of launching an indefinite hunger strike if the issue remains unresolved.
Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club, APTEA spokesperson Likha Yama said employees of the 11 DIETs in the state, despite being regular state government employees, have been facing irregularities in salary disbursement since 2019.
Yama informed that the problem began after the salary disbursement system for DIET employees was shifted from the state head to the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) mode, while demanding for salary disbursement of DIET employees through the state head under the state budget.
“Salary is our rights, Not a Privilege” she said, adding they are in complete dilemma, whether they are State government’s cadre or central government, who have been recruited through state’s premier recruiting agency Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC).
She alleged that the continued delay in salary payments is not merely an administrative lapse but a violation of fundamental constitutional rights.
Citing the reference of Articles 14, 21, 23, and 300A of the Constitution of India, Yama argued that withholding earned wages undermines the dignity, equality, livelihood and property rights of employees.
“Delay in salaries is not just an administrative failure, it is a direct violation of constitutional guarantees provided to every citizen,” Yama said.
Further, Yama informed that the association has been submitting representations to the concerned authorities since 2021, seeking the regular and timely release of salaries. However, despite repeated assurances from the government, the issue remains unresolved, she alleged.
Expressing concern over the prolonged delay, the association announced a series of democratic agitations under the theme “No Pay, No Work” to press for its demand.
As part of the first phase of the agitation, APTEA observed a one-day pen-down strike on May 29. Yama said the association has now decided to intensify its protest with a two-day pen-down strike on June 4 and 5, as the government failed to address the issue following the earlier protest.
The association further warned that if the state government does not take concrete steps to resolve the matter, it will launch an indefinite pen-down strike or hunger strike from June 15.
