NSF submits representation to NL State Govt
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 24
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today submitted a representation to Advisor, Department of School Education (DoSE), Government of Nagaland, with regard to government schools that seem to be running on discrepancies instead of rules and regulations.
NSF President Kesosul Christopher Ltu said the NSF undertook education tour in 2017-2018 and visited government schools particularly with regard to school uniform, free distribution of text book and midday meal.
Mid-day meal scheme
Reiterating their earlier representation submitted on October 25 last year, Ltu lamented that there were many discrepancies in midday meal scheme “so we wrote a letter to Chief Minister but since there was already a case registered in the State Vigilance Commission (SVC), we asked SVC to expedite the same.”
He said most of the schools they visited did not receive mid-day meals.
Some schools did not get mid-day meals even once till May, he said.
He said the scheme had miserably failed in its implementation and deprived the students of their rights and benefits. For the academic year 2018 most of the schools were not provided mid-day meals and many schools were supplied with only dal (dried, split pulses) and cooking cost without supply of any other commodity, which compelled the school management to sell few bags of dal in order to purchase rice and other commodities to provide meals to the students, the representation stated.
The NSF had written to the SVC, on August 21, to expedite the investigation currently undertaken by the SVC into mismanagement of mid-day meal scheme and produce a report within 30 days on receipt of the letter and also investigate the discrepancies in the mid-day meal scheme for the year 2017-18. “Strict effective disciplinary measure should be initiated to penalize the defaulters of the implementing agencies.”
Ltu told media persons that NSF met the SVC on September 21 and they had cited that because of natural calamities and road being cut off some districts could not be covered.
They asked us for extension of time, he said, adding that the NSF will discuss with federating units on this matter.
School uniform
The representation stated that there was shortage and delay in supply of school uniforms. Most of the schools did not receive adequate supply of school uniforms i.e. pant, skirt and shirt.
Most of the schools were issued with only sweater and a pair of socks (All of which were of the same size) and the uniforms could not fit even students from the lower primary classes.
In few schools, the students were given just the cloth materials for school pant, skirt and shirt but without stitching cost. The cloth supplied was of the lowest quality.
Ltu said that the Nagaland DoSE, through the Principal Secretary, had written to the NSF stating that this case too has been given to the SVC albeit without mention of a time period.
“It is clear that some of the school uniforms were given by the department whereas some were given through firms,” he said. The firm that has supplied this product “should be punished for compromising the quality of the product and has to be black listed.”
Meanwhile, the DoSE has written to NSF on Monday with regard to anomalies in supply and distribution of school uniforms, deciding to refer even this matter to the SVC for necessary action.
School infrastructure
The representation stated that most of the classrooms and staff rooms in government schools are in dilapidated condition. Some schools have not received any funds for repair and renovation since their inception.
Almost all the government schools, alleged the NSF, are compelled to undertake renovation and up-gradation of classrooms out of contribution from students, teachers, villagers and well wishers.
Therefore, the Government has to pursue means and provisions to allocate funds to the schools for repair and renovation, it stated.
Inspection from the department
The NSF stated that it found through records of government schools that no official inspection has been undertaken by the Department, DEOs and SDEOs. “This negligence of duty by government officials is mainly responsible for the untold hardships faced by schools and students and for low performance of students in academics,” it stated.
Composite schools
The Government has initiated merger of few schools under one administration in the form of Composite Schools. However, with the lack of infrastructure in almost all government schools, the exercise of Composite Schools will not serve its intended purpose without up-gradation of the present infrastructure.
COTPA, 2003
With The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 or COTPA, 2003 being enacted and enforced, it is imperative to put in order that, the respective District Administration should strictly monitor COTPA, 2003 and upon which no tobacco products be sold to persons below the age of 18 years, and in places within 100 meters radius from the outer boundary of educational institutions, NSF stated.
The NSF appealed the DoSE Advisor to initiate necessary measures/actions and intimate the NSF of it within 30 days. Failing which, the NSF would be compelled to come to the streets to register its resentment, said the NSF President.
