ENCSU likely to renew agitation by other means
Tuensang, January 7 (MExN): It is 2018, and the Government of Nagaland has still not paid Post Matric Scholarships for 2016-17. The Eastern Nagaland College Students' Union (ENCSU) had protested this through the better part of 2017 but to no avail. The Union has now asked students to be prepared, mentally and physically, for a “final movement against the non-release of our scholarship for 2016-17.”
The ENCSU, in a press release from its President, M Longre Chang, and General Secretary, Wangnei C Jessuhu, has challenged the Department of Higher Education and the Government of Nagaland to “come up with concrete reason in regard to delaying to disburse Post Matric Scholarship for 2016-17, even after the assurance produced by the Chief secretary in presence of Director of Higher Education, Finance Commissioner, Home Commissioner, Chairman of SIT and the students organization on December 7, 2017 at Chief Secretary Conference Hall, to disburse scholarship in full amount on or before 25th December 2017.”
Miffed by the “breach of assurance,” the ENCSU asked if “this assurance was just to fool the Naga students or the Department is trying to kill the career of its own children/students.”
The ENCSU also demanded that the Government and the Department of Higher Education come up with a solution immediately and not take advantage of “patience shown by thousand of Naga students.”
The ENCSU had called off its agitation against the issue after the Chief Secretary of Nagaland gave a written assurance. “It is very sad that even the small amount meant for students’ scholarship are misused and mismanaged,” it maintained.
The ENCSU has thus decided that if the Nagaland State Government and the Department of higher Education will not release the scholarship amount to the students, the Union will have to lock the gate of the Directorate of Higher Education.
While it warned that the Union will not be held responsible for any situation that arises out of their protest, the ENCSU hoped that in order to avoid any confrontation, the Department of Higher Education will not “deceive” the Union and thousands of students but release full amount of scholarship immediately.
The ENCSU also asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit their report immediately to the Government and publish the same in the print media. “If anyone tries to shelter the wrongdoer/s, the Union will be left with no option but to flash out the details of misuse of Scholarship and the person involved.”
It thus advised the SIT to “come out with impartial report without prolonging much.”
The ENCSU also asked organizations not to stand and support with the Government and the Department but instead work for the welfare of the students.
“When the cabinet had admitted that the money is being misused, there's no logic, an NGO given clean chit to the Department. We as a student's custodian will continue to fight to safeguard and protect the interests of our students,” it reiterated.
