Kohima: Objecting to the recent recommendations made by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the issue of the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB), the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) threatened to resume its democratic agitation till its ‘legitimate/genuine’ demands are fulfilled by the state government.
ENSF president Chingmak Chang and assistant general secretary Kaibo Konyak, on Tuesday, wrote to Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio highlighting its discontentment on the non-fulfilment of the ENSF’s charter of demands in the draft report made by the Cabinet Sub-Committee.
The Student body said that the Cabinet Sub-Committee which was constituted on September 29 last year to meet the representation submitted by the ENSF on NSSB regulations has submitted its report without fulfilling some of its core demands, despite a repeated call to the house during the final sitting on October 5 this year.
Concerning the Reservation Policy, it said that the committee’s recommendation for a comprehensive review of the state Reservation Policy justifies the “historical, political, constitutional and 58 years of employment injustice”.
It reminded the state government to incorporate its demand for reserving 45% of posts exclusively for the six tribes when the comprehensive review of the state Reservation Policy is done.
As for its demands on the inclusion of Group C posts and departments which are exempted to be brought under the purview of NSSB is concerned, it said that the draft report stated that “the matter for inclusion of more posts could be considered in due course of time after the functioning of the board stabilises”.
While saying that the main objective of constituting the NSSB is to put an end to the rampant backdoor appointment, malpractice of injustice against the unemployed youths of the State, the ENSF said that exclusion of major departments from the purview of NSSB defeats the purpose of NSSB even before it becomes functional.
“Thus, the federation disagrees and objects to the recommendation of the Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting dated 5th Oct’ 2021, led by its Convener as it has excluded major departments from the purview of NSSB. As such, the implementation of the present form of NSSB as per the report of Cabinet Sub-Committee will only open another door for backdoor appointments,” it said.
The student body said that it is left with no option but to continue with its demand upon the State Government to include all the exempted departments under the purview of NSSB to put an end to backdoor appointments.
It threatened that if the state government fails to address the genuine and legitimate demands of the federation, its democratic agitation will resume till its demands are fulfilled. “The state government will be solely held responsible for any untoward incident,” ENSF warned.
“Further, the Federation re-affirm its Order (Ref. No, ENSF/ORDER-01/20 dated 16-09-2020) to any Eastern individual intending to apply for the re-advertisement No. AR-8/NSSB-5/2020 dated Kohima 4th Oct’ 2021 and Advt. No. AR-8/NSSB-1/2021 dated Kohima 4th Oct’ 2021 is directed to refrain from applying. Failing to comply with this directive, the concerned individual will be solely held responsible,” it added.
Following the recent meeting, deputy chief minister Y Patton informed that the cabinet sub-committee, formed about the NSSB and Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) was dissolved.
He had informed that all points raised by the civil society organisations were taken into consideration and a draft report submitted by the committee is to be presented to the state cabinet for approval.
The Eastern Naga tribes consist of six major Naga tribes namely Sangtam, Konyak, Yimchunger, Khiamniungam, Phom and Chang, and pre-dominantly settled in the districts of Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng and Noklak.
