NEET 2018 list draws controversy

DIMAPUR, JULY 19 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) today stated that amongst the qualified candidates for the Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2018 which was declared on June 25, “there are a good number of doubtful candidates according to the parents of the aspirant candidates of 2018.”  

A press note from the NTC media cell said that in the event of such anomalies, the Department of Technical Education (DoTE) must get the matter verified from the State Election department as per the criteria laid down in the Notification No. AR-8/8/76, dated April 28, 1977 where 1963 Electoral Roll was made the basis for determination of indigenous inhabitant’s status.  

It further slammed the “casualness and apathetic style of handling the crucial issue of this magnitude,” stating that this is setting a bad precedence “whereby the future of our children is placed at stake.”  

“If the government of the day does not bother about the welfare of the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland, for whom does it stand? How long the State Government shall ignore those district authorities flouting the existing laws in issuance of important certificates in rampant manner?” the NTC questioned.  

It therefore urged the state government to institute inquiries into the “activities of the erring officers who had undermined the fundamental rights of the sons of the soil.” The NTC further said that the DoTE should be directed to rectify the “errors so committed as it cannot be allowed to play with the career of our children.”  

The NTC reminded that it had already cautioned the state government against going ahead with the JEE (Main) 2018/CSAB NEUT-2018 without making rectification to the DoTE notification which classified candidates into 4 categories, whereby 10 ethnic groups were placed in Category-I and another 10 ethnic groups into Category-II.  

“The list goes on to 4 broad categories. Special emphasis was also made for Rongmei tribe (recognized) into Category-I and Rongmei (De-recognised) in to Category-III (ST),” it added.  

The NTC reiterated its representation to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland that there are only 14 recognized Naga tribes and 2 non-Naga tribes in Nagaland with classifications made for ‘Advanced and Backward Tribes.’  

“The remaining ethnic groups or inhabitants who are qualified by the criteria laid down in the Notification No. AR-8/8/76 dated 28th of April, 1977 is classified as indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland. There are established laws to determine citizenship status, recognition of tribes and reservation policy in the state and respective departments are bound by the rules or guidelines as per the law of the land,” it said.  

ZPON opposes DoTE notice

The Zeliang People’s Organisation Nagaland (ZPON) also objected to the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE) notification regarding the provisional selection of candidates on the basis of NEET 2018 merit for undergoing studies in various under graduate courses in MBBS, DBS, Ayush & Homoeopathy during the session 2018-19.  

A press note from the ZPON media cell alleged that the selection comprises of “factually known as well as doubtful cases of non indigenous Zeliang candidates.”  

The ZPON claimed that this has not been the first instance where the respective district administration, though sufficiently empowered, has not been able to detect the authenticity of the candidates’ indigenous origin, from where the candidates had obtained their “seemly genuine certificates” of Scheduled Tribe, Indigenous Inhabitant and Backward Tribe “employing deceitful means.”  

It further accused the concerned authority of neither taking into confidence “whatever the native people themselves know thoroughly well and express nor the opinion of the tribe’s Organisation.” Its also accused the authority of furnishing “effortless simple verification report to higher authority at the government level in an eyewash manner.”  

“This practice is a definite deterrent of delivering justice to the rightful and deserving indigenous candidates of Nagaland,” it added.  

The ZPON extended support to the efforts of the concerned parents and the concern expressed by the All Nagaland College Students’ Union for authentic verification of those “dishonest cases.”  

It meanwhile stated that children of parents who are although in service under the Government of Nagaland but fall short of the criteria in accordance with the Government’s notification of April 28, 1977 “have no legitimate right to even endeavour to avail the privileges meant for the indigenous tribes of Nagaland.”