DIMAPUR, APRIL 25 (MExN): The Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF) has set a deadline of July 31, 2013 to the State Government and School Education Department demanding to fulfill and implement all the points agreed upon during an earlier meeting convened by the Chief Minister at Niathu Resort on February 3, 2012.
The ENSF in a press note issued by its President Likhumse Sangtam and General Secretary Honang M Jessuhu reminded about the joint consultative meeting with ENSF under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Nagaland along with other legislators & department representatives at Niathu Resort on February 3, 2012.
It was informed that during the meeting, the house thoroughly deliberated over the ENSF “5 (five) points Charter of Demands” laid down before the State Government which the later had subsequently agreed to fulfill all the demands.
In order to resolve the issue the ENSF on April 22, 2013 has served a reminder letter addressed to the Minister School Education to fulfill and implement all the outcome of Niathu Resort meeting minutes vide. No: EDS/APPT/PT-GT/2010 dated the February 7, 2012. The State Government and the Education Department has been given time to comply “with due action to all of its demand on or before July 31, 2013, failing which, the concerned authority will be solely held responsible for any consequences that may arise”.
According to the ENSF press note, in total a five point terms and conditions were agreed upon in principle by the State Government as per the February 3, 2012 joint consultative meeting convened at Niathu Resort. It was agreed upon that 497 new posts which were proposed for creation during 2011-12, but not yet approved by Government of India due to non filling up of earlier sanction posts, will be reprocessed for 2012-13, and would be earmarked exclusively for the 4 (four) Districts of Eastern Nagaland.
Further, 220 teachers posts being proposed for the 11 (eleven) Model Schools to be set up in Eastern Nagaland will be accordingly filled by the candidates from the six (6) tribes of Eastern Nagaland, subject to fulfillment of criteria for recruitment of teachers for such Model Schools. Likewise, 66 Teachers posts primary and graduate under Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya would be earmarked for candidates from the 6 (six) tribes of Eastern Nagaland, subject to fulfillment of criteria.
Meanwhile, those posts which were kept under doubtful category of teachers by the School Education numbering 72 (seventy two) would be earmarked for Eastern Nagaland after a final decision of the State cabinet on this issue. The remaining 60 (sixty) posts of graduate teachers for the 4 (four) Eastern Nagaland will be advertised once post is approved by the cabinet.
Apart from the above 4 (four) points, the ENSF pointed out that the State Government further assured to carry out teachers assessment across Eastern Nagaland and if any shortage of teachers were detected then the State Government shall create all the required posts of teachers exclusively for Eastern Nagaland Region.
The ENSF maintained that there was a strong need to bring “drastic reformation in the educational sector of the 4 (four) districts of Eastern Nagaland viz. Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng with the panorama of imparting quality education with adequate strength of teachers in all the schools”. The Federation regretted that almost all schools in Eastern Nagaland are functioning without sufficient teachers and to their utter dismay stated that “there are teachers who are appointed in non existing schools”.
In this regard, the ENSF articulated its “sturdy resentment to the School Education Department and State Government for showing less concern in attending the chronic problems of the region with desired remedial measures”. “Intentional negligence by both the concern authority had resulted in restraining educational growth & progress as compared to other advance districts of Nagaland”, stated the ENSF.
The statement from the ENSF has regretted that despite its effort & appeal, not much has been initiated or resolved till today on account of what it described as “snail pace policy and attitude” shown by the State Government.
