DIMAPUR, JULY 28 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness Forum (NPRAAF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, and Department of Tourism of the Government of Nagaland in order to make the Department more accountable to the public.
A press note from the Information & Publicity Cell of the NPRAAF informed today that NPRAAF officials had a meeting with Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Apok C. Jamir at his office chamber in Kohima on July 27.
Following this, the “two sides” agreed on an MoU, following also a “series of meetings” with various Department officials including the Director, KT Thomas and two Assistant Directors, V Doulo and I Temjen Ao on various occasions.
In the MoU, as per the NPRAAF, the Parliamentary Secretary agreed to initiate taking over of “all tourism infrastructures already constructed but yet to be handed over to the Department/Government within 45 days.” The NPRAAF had earlier pointed out that there were many infrastructures lying unused owing to unknown reasons but still under the authority of certain individuals/landowners.
It was also ‘agreed’ that “henceforth, all clearance/utilization certificates of infrastructural development would be issued jointly by the Engineering Wing and the Tourist Officer concerned.”
The Parliamentary Secretary further reportedly stated that “any deputation service sought by the Department would be declared open for competition and be filled within one year from the date of utilizing that deputation service.” The NPRAAF noted that this ‘policy’ seeks to provide opportunity for other unemployed qualified youth to vie for government jobs.
The press note from NPRAAF also stated that the Parliamentary Secretary ‘agreed’ to “stop absorption policy except on extreme exigencies since such policy becomes a bane for educated unemployed youth as it denies them any available opportunity to compete for jobs.” Moreover, informed the Forum, the Parliamentary Secretary “agreed to completely stop ‘absorption along with post’ in order to create job opening in the Tourism Department.”
The Parliamentary Secretary is also stated to have agreed “not to allow further privatization of Tourist Lodges in the state as such privatization was not contributing much to the treasury.” He also “agreed to designate 12 senior most Tourist Officers as District Tourism Officer which can be arranged without financial implications” that is “in line with the Department’s Service Rule of 12 sanctioned posts of Tourist Officers.”
The Department of Tourism also clarified “irregular appointments and promotions to Tourist Officers.” However, while some cases remain unclear and were assured necessary action, the Parliamentary Secretary “categorically assured that under his leadership, there shall be no backdoor appointments.”
The NPRAAF appreciated the Parliamentary Secretary and maintained that it will “periodically monitor the commitment made by the Parliamentary Secretary in the interest of justice,” while also assuring its “support and cooperation” to the Department.
