Dimapur, July 19 (EMN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has expressed ‘shock’ at learning that among those qualified for the eligibility-and-entrance test for 2018 declared on June 25, “There are a good number of doubtful candidates according to the parents of the aspirant candidates of 2018.”
“In the event of such anomalies, the department of Technical Education must get the matter verified from the State Election department as per the criteria laid down in the notification no. AR-8/8/76 dated 28th of April, 1977 where 1963 Electoral Roll was made the basis for determination of indigenous inhabitant’s status,” read a press release from the council.
“The NTC is serious about the casualness and apathetic style of handling the crucial issue of this magnitude by which bad precedence is being created whereby the future of our children is placed at stake. If the govt. of the day does not bother about the welfare of the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland, for whom does it stand?
“How long the state govt. shall ignore those district authorities flouting the existing laws in issuance of important certificates in rampant manner? The NTC urges upon the govt. to institute inquiries into the activities of the erring officers who had undermined the fundamental rights of the sons of the soil. The Technical Education department should be directed to rectify the errors so committed as it cannot be allowed to play with the career of our children,” it stated.
According to the press release, the NTC had ‘warned the state government not to go ahead with JEE (main) 2018/CSAB NEUT-2018 without making rectification on the notification no.DTE/CSAB-NEUT/1//2018-19 whereby the department of Technical Education had classified candidates for JEE (main) 2018/CSAB NEUT-2018 into 4 categories whereby 10 ethnic groups were placed in category-I and another 10 ethnic groups into category-II.’
“The list goes on to 4 broad categories. Special emphasis was also made for Rongmei tribe (recognized) into category-I and Rongmei (de-recognised) in to category-III (ST). The NTC has stated in our representation to the chief secretary of Nagaland that there are only 14 recognized Naga tribes and 2 non-Naga tribes in Nagaland with classifications made for Advance and Backward Tribes. The remaining ethnic groups or inhabitants who are qualified by the criteria lay down in the notification no. AR-8/8/76 dated 28th of April, 1977 is classified as indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.
“There are established laws to determine citizenship status, recognition of tribes and reservation policy in the state and respective departments are bound by the rules or guidelines as per the law of the land. Ironically, reasons best known to govt., the department is not relenting to rectify its detrimental policy,” it read.
