DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 1 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has pointed out that the State Government’s blanket ban on the creation of posts has in fact given a great advantage to influential politicians and high-ranking government servants as every post created by the government is at the whim and fancy of this ‘influential group of people’. The NSF, with the stand to maintaining ‘equality and justice for all,’ has demanded that the State government should unconditionally lift the blanket-ban on creation of government jobs. The NSF also demanded that entry of upper-age limit ‘maybe’ enhanced to 35 years and that the superannuation age ‘may be enhanced’. Likewise in farther justification, the maximum stint in service should be 33 years, according to a press note issued by Hetoi Chishi, general secretary and Charles Lotha, vice president.
Expressing concern over the state of unemployment in Nagaland, the NSF termed it has reaching ‘saturation point.’ The NSF explained on the latest registration figures this year that there are about 50,000 educated unemployed youths registered in the employment exchange. Lamenting that unlike other States, Nagaland has yet to have any industry, factory or company that could resourcefully engage educated youths, the NSF was of the opinion that government jobs are the only avenues left for the educated unemployed as of now.
The NSF felt it is unfortunate that this ‘privilege’ can not be extended to the most-deserving. Rather, it has almost become an avenue for those who have favor and support of influential politicians and high-ranking government servants. “Consequently, many qualified and capable educated youths who are from poor background do not get the opportunities of being a government servant thereby depriving them of earning their livelihood”, the Federation lamented. These poor educated youths normally run from pillar to post seeking government job but to no avail as they do not have any influential people to support them, it said.
Observing that new posts are being created to manage the affairs of the government with passage of time, the NSF stated all these posts are being filled through the backdoor ‘without making it public.’ The NSF pointed out so long as the blanket ban on creation of post is enforced, the practice of backdoor appointments will be rampant and will go unabated. The most deserving ones will be denied and deprived of the opportunity of getting government jobs, it reminded.
CoThe NSF also touched upon the social consequence leading to the haves and have-nots which will grip society and social tension will increase which the NSF felt would ultimately go out of control.
The NSF also stated that the ban on job creation was encouraging a great deal of manipulations in recruiting those in the lower echelons in lieu of the post vacated as a result of retirement of government officials on Superannuation. “Since the blanket ban on the creation of post is not yielding any results it has to be lifted and construed in a holistic manner”, the NSF suggested while giving an example that any category of vacant post caused owing to retirement of an incumbent government official should be interpreted as creation of new post and that subsequently these posts should be requisitioned to the appropriate competent authority for competition.
The NSF pointed out that the present system of retiring at the age of 57 years is making gross injustice to the most deserving aspirants as many employees remain in the office even after serving for 35 to 40 plus years in service. This, the NSF felt was because retirement was being determined through the academic certificate age wherein many cases do not tally the actual date of birth. “what is more unpleasant is a responsible officer/employees tampering their academic certificates in order to gain more service life without even an iota of feeling that many more educated youths seeking jobs for survival”.
“Another important aspect of this matter is the maximum age limit of entry age where the lower age limit for entry into service is fixed at 18 years and the upper age limit is fixed at 30 inclusive of five years relaxation for SC/STs. The NSF felt that this is also a point to be considered with all seriousness, as many educated youths are unable to get into service within this stipulated age limit due to shortage of government jobs thereby after crossing 30 years they become a liability for the society as they cannot try for any competitive jobs henceforth.
Considering all these aspects, the NSF has solicited the support of the general public and wanted the government to look into the above demands.
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