Dimapur, Feb. 19 (EMN): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union has accused Nagaland government officers of defying the directives of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on issues concerning the welfare and demands of the state’s college students.
The union issued a press release on Tuesday appealing to the chief minister “to seriously look into the matter and initiate necessary course of action to avoid unwanted confrontations from the aggrieved students.”
While appreciating the chief minister for taking proactive measures to disburse the second and final instalment of the post-matric scholarship for scheduled tribe students for the year 2017-18, the union stated that it was however “appalled by the casual response from the various department officials concerned towards releasing the drawal authority (sic).”
The union, it stated, was informed that the state government had received the sanction order for the second and final instalment only on Jan.11. “The directorate then on Jan. 16 has written to the state government for drawal authority and through reliable sources, the union was informed that the chief minister has directed the departments concerned to disburse the scholarship amounts to the students account before the end of January 2019 as it was seriously affecting the students community.
“Despite the continuous request and appeal from the ANCSU and directive from the chief minister, the departments concerned have intentionally delayed the file process which clearly indicates that those government officials concerned are not even interested to the directive of the chief minister who is the head of the government!” it stated.
Only when the union agitated on Feb. 18, the finance department cleared the drawal authority on the same day, it stated. “The ANCSU having learnt from the directorate of Higher Education about disbursing the second and final instalment through Public Finance Management System which will be able to credit 5000 accounts in a day, the union is optimistic that it will take only a week (working days) to credit the student’s accounts, which is around thirty thousand beneficiaries.”
It also reminded that the chief minister—as per the memorandum submitted on Aug. 10, 2018 by the union—has consented to set up a separate nodal cell to implement scholarship schemes; and directed the district administration to submit a survey report on Kohima Science College Jotsoma’s land issue within six weeks, and land survey report of all the district colleges/institutes within three months.
“The union having learnt of some departments being not willing to give up scholarship schemes towards the common nodal cell, it is a clear sign of the department having intentions to mismanage/misappropriate those funds meant for the students. Despite a period of six month, the district administrations has failed to submit the survey reports and also failed to take positive steps in setting up a nodal cell as directed by the chief minister, it is not only a mockery to the CMO but also an ambush to the genuine cause of the students community,” it stated.
