Nagaland CS assures to review criteria for Rs 10,000 assistance: NSF

Members of the Naga Students' Federation with the State Chief Secretary Temjen Toy on May 14. (Photo Courtesy: Naga Students' Federation-NSF / Facebook)

 

Kohima, May 14 (MExN): The Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy has assured that the government will “seriously” consider changing the existing criteria for one-time financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 to those stranded state’s citizens delaying their return, the NSF informed today.

 

Toy’s assurance came after a delegation of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) called on him on May 14.  

 

“He assured that a decision will soon be taken by the government on those not registered in the 'Returnee Registration Form' and areas excluded in the existing criteria,” the NSF said.

 

According to an update on its official Facebook handle, the NSF informed that its officials met with Toy and submitted a representation to the government to review the criteria “for extending the one time-financial assistance of Rs. 10,000.”

 

The CS said that state government is taking all possible steps in order to ensure that no citizens of the state suffer due to the lack of basic amenities on account of the lockdown, it said.

 

He also pointed out that the government is currently “screening the applications for financial assistance received thus far from those already registered to return to the state.”

 

Meanwhile, the NSF stated that it further forwarded a suggestion for extending the time-financial assistance to everyone fulfilling “the primary requirement of 'Nagaland Citizens’ presently staying outside who opt to stay back where they are at present' irrespective of whether they've registered in the 'returnee declaration Form' and their current location”.

 

Regarding the issue of providing special trains to those stranded in various cities, the CS clarified that the government is working to requisition the trains from the Ministry of Railways and that special trains arranged by the govt of Nagaland from various major cities of the country will soon be officially notified.

 

 

According to existing criteria, a one-time assistance of Rs 10,000 to any stranded person of Nagaland outside would be given to those who have already registered in the Returnees Declaration Form before 12 noon on May 11 and who voluntarily opted to stay back at their stranded places.

 

Only those staying outside the North Eastern States excluding Sikkim were allowed to apply.