DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 8 (MExN): The Kiphire Tuensang District Sumi Students’ Union (KTDSSU) went on an inspection tour of government offices, schools and health centres under its jurisdiction from August 26 to September 3. KTDSSU President, Bothuka Yepthomi and General Secretary, V Atoka Yeptho in a press release stated that the inspection was conducted to assess the educational development in the grass root level by inspecting the school infrastructures and health centres provided by the government.
The union stated that owing to shortage of teachers in some schools, even the Grade IV staffs are compelled to teach main subjects. It expressed resentment and disappointed with the concerned department for “neglecting” the Primary Schools and Middle Schools where some schools have excess teachers and there is shortage of teachers in some schools.
The KTDSSU urged the Education Department to speed up the process of “rationalisation” in order to provide uniformity of teacher strength for smooth functioning of the schools.
It further expressed “resentment and shock” that the Government Primary School building of Sitimi town which was built in 1985 is in deplorable condition. According to the KTDSSU, the teacher in-charge informed that during the rainy seasons, students are compelled to shift to a two room extension given by SSA. This, the KTDSSU said is hampering the functioning of normal classes.
The union further revealed that the Government Primary School, Seyochung Town and Government Primary School, Shothumi ‘A’ are on the verge of collapse. The number of students enrolled in these schools is 34 and 50 respectively. Meanwhile, the roof of the Government Primary School Phisami was blown off by a storm on the eve of April 18, 2016. This has been left unattended till date despite the matter being apprised to the concerned SDEO and the Directorate of School Education through various organisations. “But the responsible department is turning a deaf ear to address the damage made by the natural calamity,” the KTDSSU said.
It further informed that according to the teacher in-charge, owing to roofless class rooms, all students are now made to occupy one class room, which has affected normal classes for the past 5 months. The teacher in-charge was also reported as stating that during rainy days many students hesitate to come to school and this has “created many drop outs in primary classes.”
Given these circumstances, the KTDSSU has urged the responsible department to look into the matter and address the grievances and hardships faced by the students and teachers. It cautioned that failure to do so would compel the union to undertake a phase wise agitation.
The KTDDU also visited the government offices at Sitimi Town and Seyochung Town as part of its inspection. It informed that there is no permanent EAC posted at Sitimi Town. Therefore the union demanded that a permanent EAC be posted permanently at Sitimi Town.
It also detected that some of the offices “are locked almost throughout the month and year or so.” The KTDSSU cautioned that the officers posted there to be at the station and “their absence in the days to come will not be entertained and stern action will be initiated to those officers.”
It meanwhile pointed out that the two Primary Health Centres (PHCs) at Sitimi and Seyochung are being neglected by the department. “It is shocking to learn that both PHCs are working without Doctor for several months and year,” the KTDSSU said.
It informed that the doctor at Seyochung is “said to be on a study leave and that of Sitimi attached to District Hospital Kiphire.” “People of these two areas are facing untold hardships and miseries; the people of these areas have to go either Kiphire or elsewhere to get medication,” it said. The union therefore asked the concerned department to deploy doctors to both the PHCs without any further delay.
It then reported that the PHC Sitimi, which was constructed in 1974, is on the verge of collapse. The union urged the responsible department to take necessary steps at the earliest. Further, the union informed that the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Seyochung Town has no building and presently running in a doctor’s quarter headed by a compounder with no ambulance. The union strongly urged upon the government to provide enough facilities and basic equipments, “which are the needs of thousands of people living in the eastern most parts of Nagaland with par with other parts of Nagaland.”
The KTDSSU cautioned that it would take strong action against the irregularity of officers, teaching staff and non-teaching staff; and those found practicing substitutes and proxies.
It informed that during the tour, the union interacted with the staff, Village Education Committee /Town Education Committee Chairmen and Town Health Committee/Village Health Committee Chairmen and urged them the best use of communitisation role in their respective towns and villages.
Meanwhile, the KTDSSU has thanked the GBs, Village Council Chairmen and colleagues for extending co-operation during the tour.
