ESSU serves ultimatum to School department

Dimapur, Aug. 11 (EMN): Irked by the indifferent attitude of the state government, the Eastern Sumi Students’ Union (ESSU) has served an ultimatum to resume construction work of GPS Hoshepu A under SDEO Aghunato from August 23 and complete by October 23 as per the specification of the work order.

It also demanded appropriate action against erring officials on or before Aug. 23.

In a representation to the principal director of School Education, the union expressed dismay over the apathy of the government towards the GPS Hoshepu A project despite repeated appeals.

It also expressed astonishment over the silence of the authority concerned despite explicitly exposing the enormity of corruption and injustice for appropriate action against the offenders.

In this context, it asked if there is no law against ‘wilful misuse’ of public office or if there is a provision of ‘flexible tolerance for privileged few’ under the eye of the law. The union also asked who to approach for help when a ‘highly dignified office’ does not listen and understand the anguish and desperation of the deprived.

The representation, appended jointly by the union’s president, Hokato V Yepthomi, and the general secretary, Vikiyeto V, reminded that the order for construction of GPS Hoshepu-A was sanctioned under SSA way back 2011-2012 amounting to INR 14,68,665.58 as unit cost and scheduled to be completed by 2013.

It stated that the matter came to the knowledge of ESSU that the construction had not started and later ascertained through an RTI filed by the union. It was only then that the matter was highlighted to the visiting team of SMA, Samagra Shiksha Nagaland headed by the joint mission director of Samagra Shiksha at Shevishe village on August 19, 2020.

The union added that a representation was written to the state mission director, Samagra Shiksha Nagaland, on November 30, 2020, requesting to initiate the construction of GPS Hoshepu A.        

Another letter, addressed to the state mission director of Samagra Shiksha, soliciting for solution to the matter was written by the union on February 1, 2021. In response, a meeting was called by the district education officer-cum-district project coordinator of Samagra Shiksha, Zunheboto, with the union on February 9, 2021, at DEO office, Zunheboto, the representation stated.

It was after a thorough deliberation, the house resolved that the school building construction would begin on or before February 22 and complete by March 31, 2021.

In this connection, the DC and chairman of DMAZ, Zunheboto, issued an order to nominate construction committee members with direction to execute the work by March 1, 2021, and complete it within three months.

With no sign of any visible development till date, the union has served an ultimatum to resume construction of GPS Hoshepu A and complete within the stipulated time.