NPSC aspirants to stage hartal against backdoor appointment

Kohima, June 30 (EMN): In a move against the failure of the State government for not responding positively in regard to the rampant practice of backdoor and contractual appointments, members of Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland (PSAN) have decided to stage a peaceful sit-in protest on July 3 from 10 a.m. onward at New Secretariat junction, Kohima.

Addressing a press conference this evening at Hotel Ariel, Kohima, PSAN members informed that they have submitted separate ultimatums to four departments namely- Treasuries & Accounts, Rural Development, Art & Culture and Social Welfare- on June 1, 2017, demanding that all the posts with grade pay of Rs 2800 and above should be requisitioned to NPSC for direct recruitment.

One month’s time was given to the departments, however, none of the four departments have responded to the demands of PSAN till the expiry of the ultimatum which ended today, it was informed.

The PSAN members also informed that they have submitted separate representations to the Chief Secretary and Governor of Nagaland last year informing them about the grievances faced by the public service aspirants and further asking them to take necessary action. Separate representations were also submitted to NPSC, ministers, parliamentary secretaries, AHODs and HODs, they informed.

PSAN members also told media persons that they have met the incumbent chief minister, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, just three days ago on June 27 and submitted a representation inviting his intervention into the matter.

“We are left with no other option, but to organise the sit-in protest to display our anguish democratically against the government and the four defaulting departments,” PSAN members said adding that hundreds and thousands of genuine and serious civil service aspirants have been denied the opportunity to compete for the various posts in government offices due to the corrupt practices of the government and officers.

Ever since PSAN was formed in August 2016 by a group of like-minded civil service aspirants, with the need to check the government’s rampant practice of backdoor and contractual aspirants, it had also filed RTI queries in 59 departments, which in the process had had helped them unearth an astonishing number of appointments made without following the requisite rules and procedures.

PSAN members also alleged that many departments were not following their service rules. According to the P&AR requisition rules, 50 percent of the vacant posts should be requisitioned to NPSC, while the rest of the posts would be filled through departmental appointments. They also questioned those departments which have not furnished the correct details in their RTI queries.

During the press conference, PSAN members said that until and unless all the posts that comes under the purview of NPSC are requisitioned to it (NPSC) for free, fair and open competition as per the rules and regulations laid down under P&AR, they will not quit and will stand firm on its ground.

PSAN convenor, Nitok V Swu, reasoned out the decreasing number of posts requisitioned to the NPSC. It was learned that a total of 113 posts and 173 posts were requisitioned to NPSC in 2015 and 2016 respectively, while in 2017, only 63 posts were requisitioned till last week.

“Some of us have been studying day and night for the competitive exams. However, it is saddening after finding out the backdoor appointments in almost all the departments,” PSAN member Ngukato K Tsuipu said adding that they will be checking the other departments in phased-wise manner.

PSAN members also questioned the recruitment process of NPSC, the highest recruiting agency in the State. To this, the members demanded that NPSC should be in the line of UPSC by declaring the in public the marks scored by a candidate in prelims, mains and interview. While some members also pressed the NPSC to produce correct answer keys of prelims exams. In many cases, it was learned that, some questions doesn’t have a correct answer and this have raised doubts amongst many candidates who have appeared the exams. “In competitive exams, even half marks matters, so the NPSC should, in the future, produce correct answer keys similar with what UPSC does,” Tsuipu said, while he went on to say that an exam which is held in a year should be completed that very year itself. This, he said for the convenience of those candidates who are losing years.

“When we should be studying for the competitive exams, here we are sacrificing everything to fight against the corrupt practices of our government. At the end of the day, we may not be the immediate beneficiaries, but we have a firm conviction and believe that our efforts will make a meaningful difference for our society,” Tsuipu said adding that some aspirants are losing years in the process while fighting for equality in service and employment. “If the government fails to respond to our demands, we will pursue this fight with utmost seriousness and we mean business,” Tsuipu said adding that they have no hidden agenda against the government or any department.

Another PSAN member Abel Tsopoe regretted that corrupt practices is becoming a ‘cancer’ in our State.

“This movement is for the good of our society, so we are not scared what will come our way. Enough is enough,” Tsopoe said and voiced the need that the change should start from oneself to cleanse the corrupt system.

Mughaka Jakhalu had the opinion that “our elders have failed us quite miserably. The younger generation should rise up to bring about a positive change in our society,” he stated.

To this, another PSAN member echoed the words of Jakhalu that “the future of Nagaland is dark if corrupt officers keep on manning the offices and departments.”

In informing about the peaceful sit-in protest which will prolong till 3 pm on July 3, PSAM members have appealed to all the civil service aspirants, well wishers and right thinking citizens of Nagaland to join them in the movement for a better future of the younger generation of the Nagas.