The Arunachal Pradesh Teacher Educators Association (APTEA) has warned that it will begin an indefinite pen-down strike from July 9 if the state government fails to provide a written assurance by July 8 on resolving the long-pending issue of irregular salaries. Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club in Itanagar on Monday, APTEA president Tayon Dai said teacher educators in the state have been receiving irregular salaries since the 2019-20 financial year. He said the association’s primary demand is the fixation of monthly salaries, which it believes is the only permanent solution to ensure timely payment. Dai said the association had repeatedly approached the government over the issue but received no concrete response. After issuing an ultimatum on May 12 seeking a written assurance within 15 to 16 days, APTEA launched the first phase of its agitation with a peaceful pen-down protest on May 29. This was followed by a second phase on June 4 and 5, during which members refrained from work while ensuring that public property was not damaged and law and order remained unaffected.
The association had earlier planned to launch an indefinite strike from June 15 but suspended the move after holding discussions with Mutchu Mithi, adviser to the Education Minister, who assured members that the government was seriously working towards a solution. According to Dai, APTEA later met Education Minister *Pasang Dorjee Sona* on June 23 for nearly one-and-a-half hours and expected a definite commitment. However, the minister informed them that the government was still working on a mechanism to resolve the salary issue. “We do not have faith in temporary mechanisms. Monthly salary fixation is the only permanent solution,” Dai said. He added that the association has sought a written assurance from the government along with a tentative timeline for implementing the proposal. The APTEA president also alleged that the official minutes of the June 23 meeting did not accurately reflect the discussions or assurances made during the interaction. Dissatisfied with the document, the association convened a virtual general body meeting on June 26 involving its advisory board, principals and senior members. The meeting unanimously decided to continue pressing for its demand while giving the government one final opportunity to respond.
The association subsequently submitted a detailed representation on June 27, pointing out discrepancies in the meeting minutes and reiterating its request for a written assurance by July 8. Dai said APTEA remains open to dialogue and is willing to meet the government at any time if invited. However, he said the association will proceed with the indefinite pen-down strike from July 9 if no written assurance is received before the deadline. A standard operating procedure for the protest has already been prepared and circulated among members. Highlighting the financial implications, Dai said the state government currently bears around 40 per cent of the salary expenditure for teacher educators, while an additional allocation of approximately Rs 5.59 crore annually would be required to regularise salary payments. He urged the government to make the necessary budgetary provision so that teacher educators receive their salaries on time like other government employees. He said prolonged delays in salary payments have affected the morale and efficiency of teacher educators, who play a crucial role in improving the quality of teacher education in Arunachal Pradesh. Assuring the public that the proposed agitation would remain peaceful, Dai said the protest would be limited to a pen-down strike and would not disrupt public property or law and order. He appealed to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, adviser Mutchu Mithi, Education Commissioner Amjad Tak and other concerned authorities to resolve the issue permanently before the July 8 deadline.
