Eastern Naga Students body for indefinite strike over staff selection board

Kohima: The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) on Monday announced that an indefinite democratic agitation against the state government will be conducted from April 21 onwards over non-fulfilment of its demands on the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB). 

Addressing a press conference at DUDA guest house in Kohima, ENSF president Chingmak Chang said the government has failed to fulfill two of its demands which sought the inclusion of exempted posts and departments under the NSSB. 

Despite the formation of a cabinet sub-committee on September 29, 2020, to study the six charter of demands made by the ENSF, Chang said these two chapters were never discussed and a report was submitted by the committee stating that the two demands “could be considered in due course of time”.

“We are not against the setting up of NSSB. We are against the modalities because the purpose of the NSSB to eradicate backdoor appointment will be defeated if it continues with the current modalities,” he said. 

Sharing that the proposed “democratic agitation” will be held at the Secretariat, Chang said around 1,000 protesters are expected to participate.

The two charter of demands were among six demands made by the ENSF. It demanded that Group C posts, which are exempted from the preview of NSSB mentioned under schedule-A, should be brought under the board for preliminary and written exam.

Likewise, they had demanded that recruitment to the post of Constable/Fireman Constable/Warder/Female Warder in the Police, Prisons, Nagaland Lokayukta, NPTO, HG/CD and Department of Fire and Emergency Services (Sister Departments) Excise and Forest Guards in the EF&CC should be brought under the NSSB.

Chang said the ENSF has waited for over two years, and that its demands must be met before the NSSB becomes functional. He added that their demands are for the benefit of all Nagas, and not just for the Eastern Nagas. 

The decision to proceed with the agitation was made following a presidential meeting of the ENSF and in consultation with Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO). 

ENSF Adviser Sepili Sangtam said the purpose of the NSSB should be to eradicate backdoor appointment and maintain transparency, adding that the ENSF’s demands are “legitimate and genuine”.

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