Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 21
The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) while reaffirming its allegation against the Department of Technical Education for “serious irregularities and loopholes” today warned to stage mass agitation on October 28 if the government fails to constitute a High Power Committee (HPC) within next six days.
Addressing a press conference at NSF Conference Hall, Naga Club building here this afternoon, ANCSU president Tsukjem Longkumer said ANCSU officials with some seniors met Chief Minister TR Zeliang at his residential office last evening and apprised him about the situation leading to the present paper war between ANCSU, Directorate of Technical Education and some student bodies.
Explaining that ANCSU as a student body is concerned for the welfare of the students in the State, he said the DTE has been the nodal department for conducting Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), All India Pre- Medical Test (AIPMT) and Nagaland State Pre-Medical Test (NSPMT) and allied technical studies test.
“However, they are many loopholes in the department and therefore we want that those irregularities should be corrected and the department streamlined,” Tsukjem said.
ANCSU’s Fact Finding Committee chairman O. Wati Jamir reiterated the ANCSU representation submitted to the Chief Minister demanding a thorough probe to detect the problems, check and plug the lacunae, take punitive action if necessary and adopt solid steps to upgrade its delivery system with transparency and clarity.
He said the Chief Minister during the meeting last evening verbally assured the ANCSU leaders to look into the matter but no written assurance was given.
Taking up a follow up action, as the government had not responded to his representations submitted earlier, he said the second presidential council meeting of ANCSU held today at NSF Conference Hall, which was attended by representatives from various colleges, resolved to remain firm on their demand for HPC and also decided to intensify the agitation if their demand is not fulfilled.
“The present criteria followed by Department of Technical Education is detrimental for the future of Naga students,” he said while expressing the hope the Chief Minister would certainly take the matter seriously and conduct thorough probe to streamline the department.
Elaborating on the proposed agitation, former president of ANCSU Vilhousilie said if the government fails to look into the matter, the union will take to the street and gather at DHE at 9 am on October 28. He also clarified the misnomer that ANCSU was taking up issues on tribal lines, saying ANCSU is purely for the welfare and wellbeing of the student community. “We have never worked on tribal lines,” he stated.
Other officials of ANCSU were also present at the press conference.
