Job aspirants stage sit-in protest against irregular appointments

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 3 (EMN): Overcoming the rain, hundreds of young Naga civil service aspirants representing the Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland (PSAN) staged a peaceful sit-in protest today at Secretariat junction, Kohima.
The agitation, which was also joined by members from the Naga Students’ Federation, ACAUT, Tenyimi Students’ Union, Dimapur and Eastern Naga Students’ Union, Kohima, was organised to press the State government for its failure in responding positively on the rampant practice of backdoor and contractual appointments in government offices.
The PSAN members assembled at around 10 a.m. at the New Secretariat gate and later submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Nagaland through the Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar in the afternoon.
The seven-point charter demanded the State government to immediately terminate all backdoor/contractual appointments to posts which are under the purview of Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).
PSAN also further pressed the government for immediate requisition of all the posts with the grade pay of Rs 2800/- and above to NPSC for direct recruitment as per P&AR notification.
In demanding the State government to immediately stop rampant deputation on political ground, PSAN maintained that there should be free, fair and open competition for entry into offices under the Government of Nagaland in accordance with Article 16 of the Indian constitution.
PSAN also demanded for immediate review/amendment of the P&AR office memorandum No. AR-5/ASSO/98 dated Kohima the 11 August 2016 (Point No 3). As per the office memo of 11th August 2016, it stated that all the government employees appointed on contractual/adhoc basis shall be taken up for regularisation on completion of three years of continuous service.
“The government should not regularize all those posts which comes under the purview of NPSC, that is, posts carrying the pay band Rs 5,200 – 20200, with grade pay of Rs. 2,800/- per month and above should be terminated and thereby all resultant vacancies should be requisitioned to NPSC,” PSAN stated in its demand.
It also demanded the State government to strictly adhere and implement P&AR OM No. AR-5/ASSO/98 dated Kohima the 6th June 2016 which bans all contractual appointments.
Sticking to its ultimatum served to the four departments namely Rural Development, Social Welfare, Art & Culture and Treasuries & Accounts on 1st June 2017, PSAN also demanded for immediate requisition of all posts to NPSC.
Addressing the gathering, ACAUT leader Tia Longchar slammed the government for its failures on issues concerning the welfare of the Naga society, while he urged the younger generation to respond in order to bring about a positive change in our society.
“Our allegiance is to government and leaders who will speak and do the right things. We don’t want political leaders who will divide in terms of rights,” Longchar said.
“Unless we reach a logical conclusion, PSAN, NSF and ACAUT should be together,” he added.
He regretted stating that for too long Nagas have been divided by constituencies, tribes, blocs and region. He went to the extent of saying that the Naga public, particularly the younger generation, have the right to even say ‘NO’ to the framework agreement if it does not favour the future of the Nagas.
NSF President Christopher Ltu, in his address, said the federation will render its fullest support to the movement initiated by PSAN.
Another ACAUT leader Joel Nillo, PSAN Convenor Nitoka V Swu, assembly speaker of Eastern Naga Students’ Union, Kohima, Heno Phom, representatives from Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur, PSAN member Bendangrongla Aner and four civil service aspirants also addressed the gathering.

Government agrees to act
Replying to the charter of demands made by the PSAN on Monday the Chief Secretary, Pankaj Kumar on behalf of the government agreed to take up the matter with a three pronged action that would be taken up by the government.
In his reply the government agreed that “The appointments made on contract basis after 6th June 2016 will be reviewed by the State government for termination and requisitioning of the posts to NPSC.”
Secondly the government also agreed to look into “The P&AR Office Memorandum dated 11th August 2016 regarding regularisation of the government employees appointed on adhoc and contract basis,” and that it “will be taken up for review by P&AR department.”
Thirdly the government also agreed to review the deputation of posts in various departments in the state government falling within the purview of the NPSC for necessary corrective actions.
The chief secretary further requested the PSAN to provide details of “specific cases of appointments/ deputations” to assist in the review of such cases.