Urges Nagaland state government to effectively liaise with
Government of India to expedite Indo-Naga political dialogue
Dimapur, July 6 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation has submitted a representation to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, seeking ‘immediate and effective intervention’ on a number of issues.
In the representation which was submitted on July 6, the NSF drew attention to the protracted Indo-Naga political issue and appealed the government to sincerely and proactively work towards ensuring that peace and unity prevails among the Nagas.
While acknowledging the formation of the core-committee on Naga political issue, it also asked the government to ensure that all the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) come together under one table for an early, inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution. It also asked the state government to “effectively liaise with the Government of India to expedite the process of Indo-Naga political dialogue with the negotiating parties and ink the final agreement in line with the unique 'history and situation' of the Naga people.”
Transparency in governance
Stating that effective implementation of e-governance was the need of the hour in order to bring about transparency in governance; the NSF appealed the government to ensure that information related to schemes and programmes, list of beneficiaries, incumbency list, post creations and vacancies, progress report of the Departments, etc., are made available in the public domain in compliance with the laid down Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW).
The NSF also asked the government to enhance the level of citizen interaction in governance through application of internet and mobile technologies and to ensure that the benefits are accessed by all citizens. “The Federation strongly advocates e-governance as a tool to bring 'transparency' as a powerful agent to check corruption in the governance of the state,” it added.
It also urged the State Government to maintain transparency and accountability in utilization of COVID-19 funds.
On education sector, NSSB
Stating that the COVID-19 induced lockdown has caused untold hardships to the entire populace, the NSF underscored that the education sector has been one of the worst impacted.
“There has been a tectonic shift in the day-to-day affairs of every individual... There is a looming danger that a major section of the Naga society will be left with no resources at their disposal to meet their day-to-day requirements,” it cautioned.
Highlighting some of the concerns in the education sector, the NSF stated its observation that many teachers employed by the state government, have been neglecting their duties even while online classes have been going on in full swing. “Such dereliction of duties reflects badly upon the noble profession. It is therefore appealed to the state government to strictly implement 'No work, No pay' policy,” it said in the representation.
It also appealed to the stale government to issue an official order with regard to fee waivers by all the schools in the state. This should be issued in line with the successive court orders, it added.
Further, the NSF also appealed the state government not to delay implementation of the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) while citing the rise in the number of educated unemployed youths in the state. The state government should revise and resolve the Reservation Policy in the state within the legally permissible jurisdiction without delay, it added.
It reminded the government to ensure that the joint agreement signed on October 18, 2020 pertaining to the rationalization of the 2010 and 2013 batches of SSA and RMSA teachers materialises in letter and spirit. The Federation shall no longer tread lightly on the matter if the State Government does not honour the aforementioned agreement, it added.
