NSF president, Kelhouneizo Yhome addressing a consultative meeting at Meluri on Thursday. NSF general secretary, N. Ejanthung Ngullie (in blue shirt) is also seen. (Morung Photo)
PHEK | JUNE 23 : Fruitful and healthy deliberations have been the feature of the NSF goodwill tour to various district headquarters meeting and seeking the opinions of the people. The NSF has so far visited Kohima, Tseminyu, Wokha, Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Phek and Meluri. The NSF is concentrating on three issues during its tour: Education reforms; social and economic issues; and Naga political issue.
On Thursday morning, the NSF team interacted with the Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU), Phek Town Council, teachers and other public leaders at Phek. In his introductory speech, the NSF president, Kelhouneizo Yhome welcomed the views and opinions of the people on the three issues and urged them to spell out their expectations from the Federation which will strive to work for the betterment of the people. He said the NSF also wants to get suggestions in what way the Federation should go about and contribute towards the Naga political issue.
Participating in the discussion on education reforms, PTC chief advisor, K. Shevotso Rhakho rued that the government run schools in spite of having well trained and qualified teachers are far behind in terms of producing results when compared to private schools which have less qualified teachers. On the government norms that any teacher should undergo pre-service teachers’ training, he appealed the government to relax the norms for at least four years for the Chakhesang community saying that they have less qualified teachers. He pointed out that most of the teachers are not stationed in their places of posting especially in remote areas. In this regard, he appealed for giving the preference of appointing teachers to the local people who will sincerely attend duties. The PTC chief advisor also urged the NSF to check whether the random upgradation of schools taking place is actually necessary and fulfilled the criteria for upgradation.
A representative of All Nagaland Pre-Service Teachers’ Association (ANPSTA) Phek unit, Huveku Keyho lamented about the backdoor appointment of teachers who do not fulfill the criteria even when there are enough trained teachers. He said there are already 800 trained teachers who are ready to serve even in the remotest areas. He said that the government has framed strict rules for appointment of teachers but the government itself is not following the norms. “We have devoted our time to become trained teachers but after completion we become useless since we don’t have political backing to get appointment,” he added. He also appealed the NSF to take necessary steps to see that the practice of proxy teachers is stopped. CSU president, Easther Rhakho appealed the NSF to sincerely take up the issue of redeployment of teachers. Some speakers said there should be immediate appointment of teachers in upgraded schools. A concerned citizen felt that the people are not getting educated since the appointed and qualified teachers do not remain in their places of posting.
An issue which saw active participation of several members of both the NSF and the Phek public was the cabinet decision to hold special recruitment drive for 10 tribes grating them 1 EAC post each. The NSF president, Kelhouneizo Yhome said that the cabinet decision to hold the special NCS recruitment drive is against and outside the reservation policy. He said that the Federation is seriously looking into the issue and gathering views of the people on the matter.
PTC chief advisor said that the Chakhesang people take the special recruitment drive as a “gift” from the government to the backward tribes to bring them at par with the rest of the Naga tribes. However, he also admitted that even within the backward tribes, the advanced areas (creamy layer) are enjoying maximum and double benefits. NSF office bearers Sinhilo Thong, Jungithung Yanthan, Khrielo, Tongpang Ozukum also participated in the discussion putting forward the views of the Federation. Sinhilo maintained that the enhancement of reservation quota was done at the expense of the remaining Naga tribes. Jungithung said the special reservation is further dividing the Nagas and appealed the people to put forward their unreserved views and opinions on the issue. Khrielo urged the people to deliberate on the issue with an open mind. Tongpang said that the special NCS recruitment drive which has been described by an earlier speaker as a “gift” has now become an issue. He said the cabinet decision has hurt the sentiments of other tribes which is why the NSF maintains that the decision is a “divisive policy.” NSF general secretary, N. Ejanthung Ngullie pointed out the uselessness of a policy if that would hurt the sentiments of other people.
Several speakers from the Chakhesang community spoke in support of the cabinet decision stating that they deserve to be included in the special NCS recruitment as they are yet to come at par with the rest of the Naga people.
Attempting to clarify any misconceptions against the Chakhesang community for filing PIL in the Court with regard to reservation issue, CSU president said the Chakhesang people only wanted justice to be delivered.
On the Naga issue, the PTC advisor said it was necessary that all Naga groups unite and reconcile as a divided people cannot be expected to bring one solution acceptable to all sections of people.
Meanwhile, in Meluri, the Pochury public leaders deliberated more on the education reforms where most of the speakers raised serious concern on the absenteeism of teachers in government run schools. A senior government teacher described the government notification on redeployment of teachers as a “farce” since it has not been implemented so far. A member of the Village Education Committee said that the government’s plan to implement the RTE Act 2009 from 2012 might not be a success as the Pochury area is still not ready with the requirements which the Act stipulated. He appealed the NSF to urge the state government to create more teacher posts in Pochury area.
Pochury Public Forum (PPF) general secretary lamented on the transfer of teachers along with posts from Pochury area to other districts. He also appealed the government to identify the entire Pochury area as backward area while reviewing the reservation policy. According to him, the job reservation policy should be on the basis of developed and underdeveloped categories and not as backward or advanced. Speaking on the dismal representation of Pochury community in state government service, a senior teacher said that the Pochury community is the most deprived section which comprised of only 0.8%. The meeting was attended by Pochury Students Union, PPF, teachers, elders and other public leaders.
On Friday, the NSF team will be visiting Ukhrul and meet the people there.
On Thursday morning, the NSF team interacted with the Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU), Phek Town Council, teachers and other public leaders at Phek. In his introductory speech, the NSF president, Kelhouneizo Yhome welcomed the views and opinions of the people on the three issues and urged them to spell out their expectations from the Federation which will strive to work for the betterment of the people. He said the NSF also wants to get suggestions in what way the Federation should go about and contribute towards the Naga political issue.
Participating in the discussion on education reforms, PTC chief advisor, K. Shevotso Rhakho rued that the government run schools in spite of having well trained and qualified teachers are far behind in terms of producing results when compared to private schools which have less qualified teachers. On the government norms that any teacher should undergo pre-service teachers’ training, he appealed the government to relax the norms for at least four years for the Chakhesang community saying that they have less qualified teachers. He pointed out that most of the teachers are not stationed in their places of posting especially in remote areas. In this regard, he appealed for giving the preference of appointing teachers to the local people who will sincerely attend duties. The PTC chief advisor also urged the NSF to check whether the random upgradation of schools taking place is actually necessary and fulfilled the criteria for upgradation.
A representative of All Nagaland Pre-Service Teachers’ Association (ANPSTA) Phek unit, Huveku Keyho lamented about the backdoor appointment of teachers who do not fulfill the criteria even when there are enough trained teachers. He said there are already 800 trained teachers who are ready to serve even in the remotest areas. He said that the government has framed strict rules for appointment of teachers but the government itself is not following the norms. “We have devoted our time to become trained teachers but after completion we become useless since we don’t have political backing to get appointment,” he added. He also appealed the NSF to take necessary steps to see that the practice of proxy teachers is stopped. CSU president, Easther Rhakho appealed the NSF to sincerely take up the issue of redeployment of teachers. Some speakers said there should be immediate appointment of teachers in upgraded schools. A concerned citizen felt that the people are not getting educated since the appointed and qualified teachers do not remain in their places of posting.
An issue which saw active participation of several members of both the NSF and the Phek public was the cabinet decision to hold special recruitment drive for 10 tribes grating them 1 EAC post each. The NSF president, Kelhouneizo Yhome said that the cabinet decision to hold the special NCS recruitment drive is against and outside the reservation policy. He said that the Federation is seriously looking into the issue and gathering views of the people on the matter.
PTC chief advisor said that the Chakhesang people take the special recruitment drive as a “gift” from the government to the backward tribes to bring them at par with the rest of the Naga tribes. However, he also admitted that even within the backward tribes, the advanced areas (creamy layer) are enjoying maximum and double benefits. NSF office bearers Sinhilo Thong, Jungithung Yanthan, Khrielo, Tongpang Ozukum also participated in the discussion putting forward the views of the Federation. Sinhilo maintained that the enhancement of reservation quota was done at the expense of the remaining Naga tribes. Jungithung said the special reservation is further dividing the Nagas and appealed the people to put forward their unreserved views and opinions on the issue. Khrielo urged the people to deliberate on the issue with an open mind. Tongpang said that the special NCS recruitment drive which has been described by an earlier speaker as a “gift” has now become an issue. He said the cabinet decision has hurt the sentiments of other tribes which is why the NSF maintains that the decision is a “divisive policy.” NSF general secretary, N. Ejanthung Ngullie pointed out the uselessness of a policy if that would hurt the sentiments of other people.
Several speakers from the Chakhesang community spoke in support of the cabinet decision stating that they deserve to be included in the special NCS recruitment as they are yet to come at par with the rest of the Naga people.
Attempting to clarify any misconceptions against the Chakhesang community for filing PIL in the Court with regard to reservation issue, CSU president said the Chakhesang people only wanted justice to be delivered.
On the Naga issue, the PTC advisor said it was necessary that all Naga groups unite and reconcile as a divided people cannot be expected to bring one solution acceptable to all sections of people.
Meanwhile, in Meluri, the Pochury public leaders deliberated more on the education reforms where most of the speakers raised serious concern on the absenteeism of teachers in government run schools. A senior government teacher described the government notification on redeployment of teachers as a “farce” since it has not been implemented so far. A member of the Village Education Committee said that the government’s plan to implement the RTE Act 2009 from 2012 might not be a success as the Pochury area is still not ready with the requirements which the Act stipulated. He appealed the NSF to urge the state government to create more teacher posts in Pochury area.
Pochury Public Forum (PPF) general secretary lamented on the transfer of teachers along with posts from Pochury area to other districts. He also appealed the government to identify the entire Pochury area as backward area while reviewing the reservation policy. According to him, the job reservation policy should be on the basis of developed and underdeveloped categories and not as backward or advanced. Speaking on the dismal representation of Pochury community in state government service, a senior teacher said that the Pochury community is the most deprived section which comprised of only 0.8%. The meeting was attended by Pochury Students Union, PPF, teachers, elders and other public leaders.
On Friday, the NSF team will be visiting Ukhrul and meet the people there.
