DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has reiterated its demand for the relocation of a health sub-centre located in the premises of GMS Midland.
“It is absurd to learn that, in utter disregard of our previous press release, the colony council, along with the Health department is mulling to convert the building premises into a fully fledged sub centre. While the health of the citizens is important, it is equally paramount that the sanctity of educational institutions be respected,” it stated in a press release issued on Thursday.
According to the union, it had visited the school on September 25 and verified the land patta: a Gift Deed from three donors, namely Bhupen Paira, Mohan Paira, and Kumar Paira—and that the land legally belongs to the school and no other entity or groups can claim ownership of it.
It pointed out that the principal director of School Education had issued an order on July 5 directing the Health department to immediately vacate the school building. “But till date, this order has not been complied with, and the medical department continues to occupy the building illegally, as verified by the officials of DNSU on November 6, 2024.
“The office of the DNSU is dismayed and utterly shocked by the fact that the department of School Education is unable to protect its properties and resources from wanton encroachments and infringements from people with vested interests to obtain government contracts from multiple departments by showing the same building to all the departments a number of times to show that the contract works have been executed,” it stated.
The union claimed that the Midland Council has been illegally occupying the council office for two decades “without holding public meetings for even a single time, which is illegal and outrageous for a civilised democratic society." It demanded the Deputy Commissioner to immediately dissolve the present Midland Council and install a democratically elected one.
“The office of the DNSU is shocked to learn that the medical department started its dispensary on the first floor of the school building in the year 2011, provided by the Midland Council measuring 35x26, which was not even the property of the Midland Council. Here, the modus operandi of the officials of medical department is questionable, as the co-existence of medical facility in the school premises is untenable and should be justified by the medical department and the Midland Council,” it asserted.
The DNSU appealed to all right thinking citizens of Dimapur, and especially the residents of Midland Colony, to come together and resolve the matter. “DNSU is happy to learn that our MLA Eno Moatoshi Longkumer has also taken a keen interest in this issue, and we believe that the issue is brought to a logical conclusion so that justice is served.
“We urge the concerned authorities to resolve this matter within a week. Failure to address these grievances will compel the students’ community to take further legal and democratic action, holding the council and administrator responsible for any consequences, it warned.