CORRUPTION MATTERS!

Files RTIs in two Nagaland state government departments

Morung Express News
Kohima | April 15

“This is a turning point for the Nagas. It is a breakaway from the past and against the status quo,” said Mar Longkumer as the Action Committee against Unabated Tax (ACAUT) kick started its anti-corruption movement on April 15 and changed its name to Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation Nagaland. As ACAUT took its first step against corruption by filing RTIs in the Rural Development Department and Personnel and Administrative Reform Department Kohima, it asserted that this small step is a giant leap for the Nagas. 

“Our movement is not against any individual or a particular department; we are against the system of corruption and we are not going to leave any department. We will cover all districts,” said Dr. Khekugha Muru, Convenor RTI Committee, ACAUT Nagaland. Kezhokhoto Savi, Advocate, Convenor (Legal Cell) ACAUT asserted that the purpose of the RTI is to promote empowerment and help eradicate corruption, while adding that one core belief of ACAUT was the belief in information as power. 

ACAUT mentioned that in their interaction with the Naga Political Groups, it was made clear to them that corruption was not just about the groups but the government as well. On being asked why they have filed RTIs on the two departments, ACAUT asserted that during the First phase of their state tour, there were a lot of complaints from people at the grassroot level about allocated funds not reaching the villages and districts. The government told the villages to implement on loan basis but failed to compensate, ACAUT said. This was the first hand information they received from the people.

“Distributive justice empowers people but it is missing in our system so far,” said Tia, member of ACAUT. The RTI filed in the RD department demanded for information on the total sanction amount for the last five years in all districts, total amount disbursed district wise in the last five years, total number of working days and payment of wages. Many staffers were not present at the office even at 11:00 AM and it was informed that the department does not have a Public Information Officer.

Regarding the Personnel and Administrative Department, ACAUT called for more transparency in keeping the public informed on the record and status of employment in Nagaland state. The RTI demanded for information on the total number of government employees in the state, total number of appointments made under Class I, II (gazetted and non-gazetted), III, IV in the last five years and their break ups, number of appointments in the last five years through NPSC, number of direct departmental recruitments made in the last five years for class I and II (both gazette and non gazette posts) and Grade III and IV.