Nagaland Government Employees Join Nationwide Strike for Demands

On February 12, 2024, employees of the Nagaland government participated in a nationwide strike organized by the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF). The Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA), an affiliate of AISGEF, submitted an eight-point charter of demands to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland.

The strike aimed to address various issues affecting state government employees across India, as discussed during the AISGEF’s 18th National Conference. CANSSEA members staged a brief protest outside their office complex in Kohima, beginning at 11 a.m. Despite the demonstration, government operations in the city continued without disruption.

While presenting their demands, CANSSEA representatives, including Vice President S Chaidok Phom and General Secretary Yhunsenlo Kent, emphasized the need for regularization of all contractual employees. They called for an end to contractual, outsourced, and daily-wage employment, urging the government to fill existing vacancies in various departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) on a regular basis.

The charter further included several significant demands. Among these was the repeal of the PFRDA Act, the scrapping of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and the Old Pension Scheme (UPS), and the restoration of the previous pension scheme. Additionally, the group requested the repeal of the Pension Validation Act, 2025.

CANSSEA also highlighted the importance of strengthening the education and public health sectors. Their demands included the abandonment of the National Education Policy and the withdrawal of the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for educators.

This strike is part of a larger movement across India, reflecting broader concerns among state government employees regarding employment conditions and benefits. As CANSSEA continues to advocate for these changes, the response from the Nagaland state government remains to be seen.