The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Government needs to be patted on its back for taking up the cause of the unemployed youths of Nagaland. But unfortunately, to do this, the government has defied its own logic on austerity measures by bending backwards to accommodate certain sections of those employed under contract basis and thereby created twelve new posts, a move that contravenes on the three corrective measures announced earlier by none other than the Chief Minister himself—ban on creation of new posts, inter-departmental transfer of existing manpower, Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). With the decision to sanction new posts, the Chief Minister’s austerity measures will remain as nothing more than a mere paper exercise and a high sounding mantra to be trumpeted during lectures on good governance or expenditure reform. Such kind of political maneuvering also sends out the wrong message especially to the younger generation that only by bending the rules of the game as opposed to fair-play can one emerge on top successful.
But now that the expected has happened, the government should likewise prepare to accommodate similar cases of contract employees in other department so that at least uniformity is maintained. Or will it be a rare case of ‘justice’ (if one can term it as such) for those select few who have powerful politicians to back them to the hilt. While any decision to create room for employment is no doubt welcome, in this particular case the decision to create the new posts comes in the backdrop of the immense pressure being put from certain quarters to save the jobs of several political appointees. Not surprisingly, political discretion has once again got the better of meritocracy and this is something that should concern all those who believe in justice and fair-play. On the other hand, such decisions taken out of vested interest will send the wrong message to the educated youths of the State. For the thousands and thousands of educated unemployed youths, the message is that they should forget about their hard earned qualification as it will not earn them even the opportunity to get employed because there will always be people and politicians who would give a damn care about meritocracy. One would stand a better chance of getting backdoor appointment and then acquire legitimacy once politicians give their stamp of approval like the recent sanctioning of posts.
In this particular case as well if it had not been for the intervention of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) even the High Court ruling ordering the appointment of Government Lecturers selected through the NPSC would have been stonewalled. That rules are meant to be bent have been clearly demonstrated by our politicians who would go to any length to protect their interest. Against this backdrop, it will be only fair to suggest that the NSF should apply constant pressure on the government so as to ensure job recruitment through an open and transparent process. The government establishment should be reminded to make public job vacancies in the various State-run departments and putting forward the vacant posts for recruitment through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). While recently, some departments have gone for a public recruitment process as formally requisitioned by the NPSC, others need to follow suit. This will put to rest both apprehension and genuine grievances of the public about illegal appointments to government jobs. It goes without saying that an open system of recruitment process will give an equal opportunity to the qualified and deserving youths waiting in the wings.
