EMN
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 12
The state government has said today that the cabinet, having taken all possible measures to address the demands made, appealed to the Eastern Naga Student Federation (ENSF) to withdraw their proposed agitation keeping in view that such issues can be resolved only over a period of time and through the collective efforts and cooperation of all concerned Departments and the stakeholders.
According to a press statement issued by Cabinet Secretary Pankaj Kumar, the State Cabinet held a meeting on August 11, 2015 to consider the demands of the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) made in their ultimatum August 6, 2015. The Cabinet further met with the ENSF representatives on August 12 and thereafter deliberated on their outstanding demands. The decisions taken by the State Government in regard to the demands of ENSF are that the establishment of a Commission is agreed to ‘in principle’ with the power to collect data, study and make recommendations on developmental, educational, employment, health aspects pertaining to all backward tribes in the State with special focus on 6 backward tribes (Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam and Yimchunger) of Kiphire, Longleng, Mon and Tuensang districts. The Annual Reports of the Commission will be laid in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. The Commission will also have the power to impose fine (similar to State Information Commission under the RTI Act) in case its request for information/data is not heeded by the Department/Authority concerned within a reasonable period. Necessary legislation will be prepared with other necessary details and brought into effect through an Ordinance to expedite the process.
Another decision of the cabinet meeting has been that all departments shall be required to incorporate provision regarding reservation for backward tribes (BTs) in their Service Rules.
The cabinet also took a decision that there will be a ban on ‘de-reserving’ vacancy earmarked for any BT. If the vacancy belonging to a particular BT cannot be filled during any year, the backlog will be carried over to the next year for recruitment as a back log quota, and this will be carried on till it is filled up by a candidate from that BT.
With regard to the demand for raising reservation quota for the 6 BTs for compensating the shortfall in the past recruitments, the Cabinet decided that the matter of ascertaining the shortfall in recruitment of BTs from 23-07-2008 when exclusive 25% quota was earmarked for 6 BTs belonging to Kiphire, Longleng, Mon and Tuensang Districts and quota was also earmarked for other BTs, and making recommendations to address the shortfall, will be referred to the proposed Commission. The State Government will take appropriate action after considering the recommendations of the Commission, the statement added.
