NESGETUF conference in Aizawl forms Northeast coordination committee

Aizawl, March 15 (MExN): A two-day conference of the North East State Government Employees and Teachers United Forum (NESGETUF) was held in Aizawl, Mizoram, on March 12 and 13, bringing together representatives of government employees’ organisations from across the eight Northeastern states to discuss common challenges and strengthen coordination.

A five-member delegation of the Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA), led by its president Zubemo Lotha Tsanglao, attended the conference, which was hosted by the Federation of Mizoram Government Employees and Workers.

The conference aimed to promote a collective approach among government employees in the region to pursue justice, equality and improved service conditions.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the formation of a Northeast Coordination Committee to strengthen cooperation among employees’ organisations of the region.

It was decided that each of the eight Northeastern states would nominate three members to the committee. Purujit Lairikye will serve as the coordinator, while the president of the Assam State Employees Federation will act as the co-coordinator. The headquarters of the committee will be based in Guwahati, Assam.

Participants noted that the formation of such a body had long been felt necessary in order to present a unified voice on issues affecting government employees in the region, many of which are common across the Northeastern states.

Addressing the conference, Tsanglao urged the Central government to recognise the uniqueness of the Northeast, comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, and described the region as geographically and strategically important for India.

He said that unlike many mainland states, the region faces numerous development, administrative and infrastructure challenges due to its mountainous terrain, remoteness and limited connectivity.
Government employees in these states play a crucial role in delivering governance, implementing development programmes and maintaining administrative stability, he said.

Despite their contributions, employees often face common challenges such as service disparities, limited opportunities for career progression and inadequate representation of their issues at national platforms, Tsanglao added.

NESGETUF, he noted, was formed about 20 years ago to unite government employees from all Northeastern states on a common platform to address such concerns.

He stressed that collaboration among the states, sharing administrative innovations and policy approaches, initiating welfare measures for employees and strengthening NESGETUF would help safeguard employees’ rights and address grievances collectively.

Mizoram Rural Development Minister Prof Lalnilawma, who attended the evening cultural programme on March 12 as the chief guest, urged government employees to give their best service during their tenure.

He said government officers are among the most privileged groups and should strive to build a legacy of selfless service so that they are remembered by people even after retirement.

The keynote address at the conference was delivered by Subhash Lamba, president of the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF), while AISGEF general secretary A Sreekumar delivered the inaugural address and outlined future tasks and programmes of the federation.

Delegates also witnessed colourful Mizo cultural performances and were hosted with traditional Mizo hospitality during the conference.

The event concluded with participants attending the Chapchar Kut celebrations, the biggest festival of the Mizos, held at Lammual in Aizawl on March 13.