Why Staff Selection Board is Needed in Our State?

The manner of appointments in PWD department had caused huge uproar among the legislators in the recently completed Assembly Session of the NLA. A week before the Assembly session, the result of LDA CUM COMPUTER ASSISTANT posts in the Agri department had caused similar uproar, at least on social media. Time and again, the government of Nagaland amazes us with its extraordinary actions when we are thinking the last time would be the last. The reason for the ever-continuing hijack on the departments by some vested ministers and bureaucrats is because of the public inaction. We roar only during the time of casualties but after few weeks it all goes back to square one. We complain but we don’t act to bring long term solution(s) to the impending issues, which is why we are at the receiving end.

Comparing to backdoor appointments made in PWD and Police departments, the recruitment process in the Agri department seemed fair enough; unlike in former departments, at least the backward tribes got their quota in Agri department all because of recruitment by Examination. If there was no examination, there would have been no place for backward tribes too and all posts would have gone to a particular tribe as was the case in the PWD department.

However, having said so, neither do I support the departmental examination system in the present form nor do I mean departmental examinations are fair and free from manipulation. With few exceptional cases, the departmental examination in Nagaland is a big farce. Since there is not much difference between the two, citizens are often confused between backdoor appointments and departmental exams. Some say Appointment without advertisement is “Backdoor appointment” while appointment via departmental exam is “Window Appointment”. In other words, backdoor appointment is a daylight robbery, departmental exam is a midnight robbery, the former is noticeable but the latter is not noticeable. Though both are robberies and the amount of crime is also equal, yet, backdoor appointment is illegitimate but departmental exam is legitimate insipite of illegal means involved in the recruitment process. To be precise, departmental exams are conducted for the sole motive to legitimize the illegitimate actions of the culprits. Over the years, it has become a mechanism to cover up the crime committed by those at the helm of power.

The real motive of conducting departmental exams was to select meritorious candidates so as to render efficient services to the government. However, the system has been exploited to the maximum by few vested individuals to satiate their selfish interests. For many decades, without shedding blood, the aspiration of meritorious and deserving candidates are being executed in the sacrificial alter of ministers and bureaucrats in the form of departmental exams. The system has been in place for more than six decades and still we choose to remain silent; but for how long?

The departmental examination system in the present form not only serves the interest of few vested individuals but also causes untold harassment to genuine and deserving aspirants. Let us look into some of the difficulties aspirants are facing:

1. An aspirant while burning midnight oil to face exams loses his/her prime years to invest in other avenues. After his/her aspiration has been killed by the hands of corruption he/she gets frustrated and when his/her frustrations grow bigger, joins anti social forces. Many able youths have been pushed into the pit of corruption.

2. The present departmental examination system is also a very costly affair. Since all departmental exams are being conducted in the state capital, aspirants from far flung areas have to spend at least three days to sit for a single exam. When we calculate their expenditure for a single exam; Bus Fare (arrival+return)=2000 + fooding and lodging per day 2500X3 days =7500 +Taxi fare1000 total=10500(ten thousand five hundred) only. Besides, departmental exams are not conducted simultaneously. In a year at least 10 departmental exams (excluding NPSC, UPSC and other central exams) are conducted.

Now if he/she sits for ten (10) exams in a year, 10500X10=105000 (one lakh five thousand) only. Let aside other expenditures, even just filling up the forms costs an aspirant not less than 200-300 bucks. There are far more plights faced by the aspirants, if we are to write each and every bit of problems, even this newspaper would run out of space.

3. The present departmental examination system is costly for the government as well. The departments have to engage their employees for weeks and months preparing for the conduct of a single exam. In a year, if ten departmental exams are conducted, at least 1000 government servants are engaged for setting of questions, conduct of exams, invigilating, answer correction, conduct of interviews etc. Besides wastage of time, expenditure for question papers, TA/DA for invigilator and interview board members, refreshments etc need to be minutely calculated.

The present Departmental examination process is polluted and therefore totally unacceptable. Unless some drastic institutional changes are affected, the future of our state looks gloom. Therefore, Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland (PSAN) has been earnestly pursuing for setting up of Staff Selection Board (SSB) in Nagaland since 2016. In this regard, the PSAN met His Excellency, the Governor of Nagaland and submitted Representation in the winter of 2016, followed by submission of representations and meetings with the then Chief Ministers Shri T. R Zeliang, Dr. Shurhozulie and the incumbent Shri. Neiphiu Rio. The PSAN has also called on a host of ministers, senior bureaucrats and policy makers to impress upon them the urgency of the matter. The PSAN’s persistence seems to be bearing fruit as the incumbent Chief Minister has directed the department concerned to pursue the matter. The effort of PSAN is solely for the welfare of downtrodden, remote areas, genuine and deserving candidates, general public and most importantly for the future of our state.

The SSB, if institutionalized, would have sweeping effect on the people of Nagaland. It will be one vital instrument to eradicate corruption in our state. Some (among many) merits if SSB is set up are as here under :-

1. Backdoor appointment is the root cause of corruption in the government sector. Sometimes, legislators are forced to act against their conscience due to public pressure, as one current minister argued. If SSB is set up, the ministers and MLA will be relieved off the pressure from the public. It will give them good reason that backdoor appointment is outside their grip. In return, the public will also do away with pre-election job commitment and vote with their conscience for the right candidate.

2. The present departmental examination system where those at the helm of power select candidates at their whims and fancies would be checked and only genuine an deserving candidates will be selected. The selection of candidates on the principal of meritocracy would provide efficiency in the office as well.

3. The present departmental examination system where huge amount is incurred from the state’s coffers will be stopped and also save the departments from manual and monetary expenditure.

4. The difficulties faced by the aspirants would be addressed. They will sit for one (or two) exam(s) in a year while ticking the option for 10-20 departments at a time. It will save the aspirants from huge unnecessary expenditures.

The SSB if institutionalized, it will benefit all the stakeholders- the government, the public and the aspirants. It will also go a long way in the history of Nagaland for dousing the flame of corruption. While the PSAN was pressurizing the Nagaland government, the Arunachal Pradesh government has preceded Nagaland in setting up their own Staff Selection Board. If our neighbors can do why can’t our government do the same? Lastly, I hope the lone JD(U) legislator who is a partner in the PDA coalition will live up to its pre-election manifesto and pursue the setting up of SSB in Nagaland with utmost sincerity.

The writer also requests the right thinking citizens and educated youth of Nagaland and most importantly, Eastern Nagaland Legislators whose people are the receiving end to support PSAN for setting up of SSB.

Kuknalim.

Ngukato K. Tsuipu
Advisor, PSAN