Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 20
The issue of 'reservation for backward tribes' stirred a heated debate today at the second session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 20.
The issue was raised during the question hour where MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu enquired on the total lists of appointments of SAs/LDAs from March 2018 till date.
Tongpang Ozukum, Minister for NPWD answered that 19 LDAs were appointed with effect from March 1, 2018 till date while 42 SAs were appointed. On being asked whether the 37 percent backward reservation has been applied, the answer given was that six appointments were made on the basis of backward tribe.
However, MLA Chotisüh Sazo pointed out that in the appointments made by the PWD Department, out of the 42 posts, only 6 posts were reserved for backward quota, although the backward tribes ‘are supposed to get minimum 15 posts'. Sazo sought the Minister to cite the reason why 15 posts were not allotted to the backward tribes.
Riposting the PDA Government's tagline 'Change is coming', MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu from the opposition stated that many changes have been made ever since the PDA Government took over.
Highlighting the some standing orders such as the 17 July standing order on the appointment of Grade IV staff and the notification of job reservation, Nienu stated that these orders have been 'vehemently violated'. "You can take the lion's share but at least reservation should be applied," stated Nienu adding that because of such violations on reservations, the demand of the ENPO for separate statehood is gaining momentum.
E.E Pangteang also blamed the ruling party and accused them of being inconsiderate of the backward tribes.
Minister Tongpang Ozukum then stated, “37 percent reservation was not implemented as the department is in the process of coming out with the Nagaland PWD Engineers and Technical Staff Service Rules 2018, since the service rule is under examination’.
To which Yitachu questioned if the PWD is above the Government (that is the P&AR) or whether the rules of the government is binding on the PWD.
“All the LDAs that were appointed were on temporary basis and need basis, therefore it is liable to be terminated as and when a proper recruitment is conducted. And we assure that within one year, 37 percent reservation will be implemented and it will be honored. Another 52 posts of work charge employees have been regularized by the department so we are much concern about the backward tribes. I think the Department has done justice so far,” claimed Ozukum.
Expressing dissatisfaction on Ozukum’s response, TR Zeliang accused Ozukum of ‘misleading the House’, stating that 37 percent reservation is already a laid down policy of the Government and therefore the department cannot work out a formula.
“How can a minister mislead the people like this? The sixty member of this house represent the people. And merely stating like this just to satisfy the members is not the way to give the answer to the question because the question is for the people and not for us,” stated TR Zeliang.
YM Yollow Konyak pointed out that out of the 33 posts, 32 posts were taken by three major tribes. Among the 46 LDA posts, Yollow stated that 23 appointed were from one major tribe alone, 14 from two other major tribes leaving only nine posts for the rest of the tribes. “Why is that so? Is Nagaland to be run like this?” questioned Yollow.
MLA Nganglang also sought assurance from the Minister that appointments be cancelled and justice be done for the backward people of Nagaland. MLAs Yitachu and Vikheho Swu further pointed out of the random appointments and the impracticality of appointing an outsider instead of the inhabitants of the area mentioning that Grade IV posts are to be allotted to the inhabitants of the district.
Yitachu stated that people on the ground manning the roads are mostly SAs and not engineers, who do most of the works in maintaining the roads. As far as LDAs are concern, the MLA pointed out the standing order of appointments to be made within the district to the inhabitants of the district while the open advertisement are made only for posts in the Directorate,”
"All these posts in each and every district should be reverted back to the inhabitants of the district and do justice," claimed Yitachu.
While Ozukum Tongpang continued with his assurance of maintain the 37 percent reservation, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio concluded the discussion, remarking, “We stand by our policy and reservation for the backward tribes. We are concern if there were only lapses in the PWD, we will look into and see that necessary corrections are made. We should not agitate and not threaten the members. I assure we will try our best. As far as the PWD code of conduct, it should not supersede the standing order of the government, that I fully agree.”
