NSF puts foot down on SSA dirt

Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): An unhappy Naga Students’ Federation today issued a strong caution to the state government that an own course of action from the Federation would be inevitable if corruption and malpractices in the SSA department are not done away with. The Federation has made clear to the State Government that there shall be no compromise on the matter of corruption and nepotism in the department of School Education. The NSF drew irony that a department such as the School Education is expected to be a backbone for the society and a disciplined entity, leave alone corruption. 

“The Federation has come to learn the seriousness of the shameful malpractices that has deeply infested the administrative system of School Education (in) SSA. The Federation in particular and the public in general is indignant with the rampant prevalence of malpractices within the SSA projects” stated the Federation through its education secretary Ahito Achumi. The lackadaisical attitude of the concern authority in tackling the malpractices being unearthed “must be washed off” the Federation demanded. 

The NSF also made mention that a memorandum was forwarded to the Governor of Nagaland to address the reports of corruption in the implementation of the SSA projects in the state. In the memorandum was demanded a state high-level independent enquiry to look into the appointments and implementation of civil works in Nagaland, with special reference to Changtongya sub-division, Mokokchung. The enquiry body was demanded to be set up within 30 days, while the erring officials be suspended till the time the enquiry accomplished its purpose, the NSF reiterated. 

“However, the government of Nagaland has failed to respond to the demand made by the Federation within the stipulated deadline” the NSF lamented. In this regard the NSF has warned that if the government remains indifferent, an own course of action would be taken up to root out the corruption prevailing in the department.   

NSF withdraws from NESO membership 

The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has withdrawn its membership from the North East Students’ Organization (NESO). The development follows what NSF leaders said are “students’ politics” in the NESO. NSF president Imchatoba Imchen informed that although the decision is yet to be formally set, the decision has been taken. Giving the reasons for withdrawing the membership, he said that the NESO had rejected two NSF representatives to the NESO executive. Further, it was alleged that the current NSF representatives in the NESO, general secretary NSN Lotha and advisor Artax Shimray, ‘don’t want to give chance to others’ and are refusing to step down. The NSF is said to have recommended former NSF chief Phushika Aomi and a general secretary from the last tenure. However the two were rejected on grounds that only one was permitted according to the NESO’s constitution. When contacted, NESO general secretary NSN Lotha said that the two NSF representatives could not be accommodated since the NESO had regulations that only one representative from a body can be nominated. He also refuted the charge of being against “giving chance to others.”  “I am already out of NESO; I have stepped down” he said. Lotha said he has already stepped down as general secretary and has even made public that he will be joining politics soon and would be contesting in the forthcoming state general elections.  

Meanwhile conflicting reports continued over the matter even as this report was being filed. President Imchotoba said that NSN Lotha has asked to be nominated again as representative to the NESO.