Dimapur, MarCH 3 (MExN): Nagaland University teachers have not taken too kindly to recent statements issued by Dr. Piketo Sema, former Director of Higher Education and Er. Mhondamo Ovung, Additional Chief Engineer (PHED) in regard to the teachers’ stand on various issues in their highlighting negligence and apathy from concern-that-be. A Nagaland University Teachers’ Association (Kohima) statement reminded that its fight for justice through the years, has tried to streamline the institution as per statues and guidelines in the University Act.
On the resignation of PIC (Exams) Prof. GT Thong, the statement informed that NUTA had requested him to continue in the interest of the students. However, at his request, his resignation letter was studied wherein the reasons for his resignation were noted with genuine concern and so to ensure he is not blamed, it was decided to highlight the matter in the Press.
It also reiterated that (former NU VC) Prof. GD Sharma’s appointment was vehemently opposed by the NUTA as it was in gross violation of norms. His name did not figure in the panel prepared for the President of India. However, at a later date, ‘through dubious means’ he managed to get his name through, NUTA stated, reminding that his tenure was marked by agitations due to rampant manipulation and irregularities in appointments and financial mismanagement. “Highlighting Prof. Sharma’s success is highly questionable as he was sacked just four months prior to completion of his full term by the President of India. This was because the President had no option as there was damning proof of serious irregularities during his tenure as VC. This created history in the annals of Indian Central Universities” the NUTA stated.
The association also noted that Dr. Piketo Sema had to take “such an anti-NUTA stance just to ensure a suitable position in the near future as he is one of the applicants for a post in the university.” “…We hope that Dr. Piketo Sema is aware that the Director, Higher Education, Nagaland is a member of the Executive and Academic Councils and the Court of the university. Unfortunately over the years the person (s) attending the meetings always sided with the manipulators” it noted.
The Executive Council made a mockery of the system by sidelining issues and today, the university is faced with a very serious Special Audit Report undertaken at the directive of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, highlighting serious irregularities in appointments and financial mismanagement, as well as questioning the ratification of such cases by the Executive Council, the NUTA. It however expressed pride that in spite of all problems the students have done well academically, as can be verified from university results, performance in NET, NPSC, and other state and National level examinations over the years.
Also, in response to Er. Mhondamo Ovung attributing the creation of the Center for Mass Communication as an achievement of Prof. Sharma, NUTA stated he is not aware that instead of opening a full-fledged Department of Mass Communication which the UGC and MHRD was willing to finance, “he settled for a diploma course with such a high fee structure that has discouraged many students.” The NET Examination Center at Kohima was also initiated by the NUTA through the Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA) and not Prof. Sharma and the Institute of Engineering & Management and the Women’s’ Study Center was sanctioned for the NU but Prof. Sharma “kept the money in fixed deposits and did not bother to start these programs” NUTA lamented. Citing an instance, the NUTA informed that complaints lodged by Post Graduate hostellers had forwarded numerous representations which however “gathered dust” and they were not provided the minimum basic facilities.
Ovung should rather have taken more interest in streamlining his own department which, “over the years has received unimaginable amounts of precious funds for laying thousands of kilometers of pipelines all over Nagaland.” The NUTA queried where the water and the pipelines were. “What we see in Kohima Town today are hundreds of kilometers of plastic pipes running from stream channels to cater to the needs of major parts of the township by private parties. Government water supply caters only to the privileged class of the population. It is rather strange that Er. Mhondamo Ovung has not agitated or voiced his concern against this massive corruption of mind boggling dimensions in Nagaland” The NUTA pointed out.
Further, development at Kohima Campus at Meriema is yet to begin even after more than thirteen years. For this the NUTA ‘tried everything’ to push the concerned authorities to procure the land from the State Government and start developmental works but to no avail, it lamented. It pointed out that Kohima College authorities always obliged in the use of their infrastructural facilities for the conduct of the NET Examinations by the university. “However, last December, the university was not allowed to conduct the examinations in their premises due to which most students had to walk all the way to the Alder College, Kohima on a Sunday to write their examinations; so much for cooperation from other Institutions who wish only the best for the University” the NUTA lamented.
