Dimapur, October 3 (MExN): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) on Monday drew the attention of the Nagaland Chief Secretary to three long-standing issues which the Government of Nagaland should take up on priority, in order to avoid “academic recession and educational turbulence.”
The issues included the construction of boundary fence and re-allocation of land at Kohima Science College (Autonomous) Jotsoma, shortfall of teachers and other matters in the Higher Education Department, and matters related to implementation of scholarship schemes in Nagaland.
While certain issues require certain time, these issues have been brought to the notice of the state government on several occasions in the past 5 years, ANCSU President, Toito D Chishi and General Secretary, Tenyesinlo Bukh stated in a representation addressed to the Chief Secretary.
“The union finds no genuine reason as to why these issues would require more than a month time to be solved after these many years!” it added.
Kohima Science College
In the representation, the ANCSU acknowledged the measures taken by the state government in settling the land encroachment issue at the Kohima Science College (Autonomous) Jotsoma, but however, pointed out that the re-allocation of land and construction of boundary fence “is yet to see the light of day.”
It maintained that the commitment was made during the ANCSU’s meetings with the Committee for settlement of KSCJ Land issue, but “despite the proposal for boundary fence construction being recommended by the then Deputy Commissioner Kohima, the department of Higher Education and state government is adamant in taking up necessary arrangements.”
In this connection, the Union cautioned the government “not to take the issue on joy ride but rather keep its commitment for boundary fence construction and land (occupied) re-allocation.”
Failure of the state government in putting its commitment into action within a month time shall only invite confrontations, it added.
Scholarship Nodal Cell
According to the ANCSU, some departments “are not willing to provide its scholarship details” in the Common Scholarship Portal set up by the government to maintain transparency and proper implementation of scholarship schemes in Nagaland.
“The ANCSU questions these departments as to why they are not willing to provide the details of the scholarship schemes?” it said, while also reminding the government that apart from the portal, “a proper cell needs to set up with concerned officers and staffs, so as to ensure transparent and proper disbursement of various scholarship schemes.”
The Union further stated that it is aware of 18 scholarship schemes available in 13 departments “and failure of some departments to provide necessary details to the common scholarship portal within a month time, which is managed by ITC, the union will be compelled to challenge these departments in any befitting manner.”
Higher Education
Government colleges in Nagaland continue to function with shortage of teachers yet the department is least concerned and never serious about the matter, the ANCSU went on to state.
In the midst of such depreciating situation, the introduction of Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) and New Education Policy has resulted in requirement of more teaching faculty, it said, while underscoring that “there is requirement of over 250 teachers for 15 government colleges, even with the existing regular and 160 contractual teachers under Higher Education.”
To put it into context, the ANCSU stated that several teachers’ issues have been coming up ‘one after the other’ in the state. In this connection, it called upon the department of Higher Education and the state government “to solve the issue of contractual teachers under Higher Education Department within one month and henceforth do away with random contractual engagements except on exigency.”
At the same time, it also pointed out that the government has not paid salaries for some contractual teachers for the past 4 months even after utilizing their services, and urged the department and the government to “immediately do the needful as such unnecessary harassment will eventually impact the teaching atmosphere.”
The union further demanded for necessary post creation and recruitment without further delay, as shortage of teachers is directly affecting the student community.
