𝗗𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗔𝗪𝗞𝗗𝗦𝗨 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝟮𝟰-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗴, 𝗔𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹.

The bandh call comes nearly seven weeks after the government issued a notification on July 20 transferring and posting 203 teachers across Arunachal Pradesh, of which 12 were posted in West Kameng. Despite repeated deadlines and assurances from authorities, these teachers have not reported to duty, leaving classrooms unattended and students deprived of education.

AWKDSU President Khambo Sakrinsow, briefing the media in Bomdila, said the union had initially waited 15 days for the teachers to join, before escalating the issue by meeting the Education Commissioner on August 5. A 10-day ultimatum was submitted, and the Commissioner had assured that the teachers would join by August 15. However, the deadline lapsed without any action.

The union later held a consultative meeting with the West Kameng Indigenous People Society and other community-based organizations on August 23. Following their advice, memorandums were submitted to both the Chief Minister and the Education Minister on August 26. With no response forthcoming, the union decided to enforce a complete shutdown.

The missing teachers, posted across schools in Dirang, Singchung, Kalaktang, Thrizino, Namshu, and Shergaon, include PGTs, TGTs, and PRTs covering subjects such as Science, English, History, Geography, and Social Studies.

Supporting AWKDSU, David Jebisow, President of the All Aka (Hrusso) Students’ Union and issue Vice Chairman, criticized the defiant teachers and urged the government to terminate their services. “While the Education Minister has taken a good step in shuffling teacher postings, these teachers are acting on their own whims and fancies. They should be terminated and unemployed educated youths should be given a chance,” he said.