DIMAPUR, JUNE 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has granted a 25 days extension to the deadline issued to the Tourism Department for cancellation of backdoor appointments. The new deadline is July 20, 2016.
A day ahead of the expiry of the previous deadline (June 25, 2016), the two parties met on June 24 at the Tourist Lodge Dimapur to discuss the issue. Assistant Director, Tourism, I Temjen Ao represented the Department while a host of NPRAAF office bearers were in attendance, informed a press note from the NPRAAF.
It said that the Tourism Department “agreed in principle” to post a separate Tourist Officer (TO) at Kiphire, which was one of the core demands of the NPRAAF. In this regard, the Director (in-charge), Tourism Department, K.T. Thomas gave in written to the NPRAAF stating, “the directorate will take into account for necessary action with the Administrative Head.”
Meanwhile, the NPRAAF had also put forth fresh suggestion for increasing the number of 12 sanctioned posts of TOs to at least 27, recognizing the need for more TOs both within and outside the state especially where Nagaland Houses are established. “The Department welcomed and appreciated this suggestion and agreed to seriously take up the matter with higher authority. The Department agreed that there was a need for more TOs,” the NPRAAF informed.
It further made clear to the department that the NPRAAF was uncompromising in its demand for cancellation of backdoor appointments of Tourist Officers which led to excess officers. “Our demand for increasing the sanctioned posts of Tourist Officers should not be confused as contradictory with the demand for cancelling appointment of excess officers which were made through backdoor. Whether there is excess or permissible number of officers, as long as the appointment is backdoor, NPRAAF will continue to oppose such appointments.”
During the meeting, the Department clarified certain cases of appointments of a few officers which NPRAAF had described as backdoor in its ultimatum. “The clarification was satisfactory and was substantiated with documentary evidence, therefore, NPRAAF has dropped the demand for cancellation of such appointments,” it stated.
However, it pointed out several other “anomalous and irregular appointments” which are yet to be discussed and for which the Department has sought more time to look into.
