Lelen Singsit
Dimapur
When I cleared UPSC Prelims for the first time, my Mains centre was in Guwahati. There I met some tribals like me from Manipur and Arunachal. In our conversations during lunch breaks between exams, one candidate from Manipur said that his State Government gives Rs. 1 lakh to all candidates who clear UPSC Prelims! Then another candidate from Arunachal said that their Government also give them Rs. 1 lakh when they clear Prelims! I was so envious of them because our Nagaland Government gives nothing!
They had come to write the exam with money and peace of mind in their pockets. But me and one guy from Nagaland were suka! (Dry).
When I cleared UPSC Prelims, I heard that Nagaland Government used to give Rs 25,000 to those who clear UPSC Prelims. So I enquired about it and was told that the Finance department of Nagaland do not have money. So it has discontinued the scheme.
No wonder each year, there are tribals from Manipur and Arunachal who clear UPSC, but many years go by with not a single candidate from Nagaland clearing the UPSC.
1 lakh is a big blessing for a poor or middle class UPSC aspirant. If you have given competitive exam in your life then you will know how expensive it is to write an exam which has a full one year cycle.
There is a saying, " You get what you sow". If Nagaland Government don't sow money in this UPSC field, naturally it will reap empty fruits each year.
As there are very less source of employment in Nagaland, it will be great blessing for the students if the State Government give scholarship to those who clear first stage test or Prelims of Central exams like UPSC, SSC, Banks etc.
A little nudge or encouragement in the form of money can be a great help to students who write these Central service exams. It is hoped that our Nagaland Government will at least do what its neighbours are doing.
