Morung Express News
Kohima | July 3
What does it feels like to work hard only to find out that someone with privilege and connections gets the job? “Frustrating!” says Chonpen echoing the mutual feeling of each protestor present at the Public Service Aspirant of Nagaland (PSAN) protest on July 3 outside the Nagaland Secretariat in Kohima.
Braving the heavy rains of the unpredictable Kohima weather, over 300 aspirants and supporters gathered outside the nerve centre of the Nagaland State Government to protest against rampant backdoor appointments, non-requisition of posts to the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) for direct recruitment, and demand for free, fair and open competition.
“Most of us have given exams more than 12 times- civil services as well as departmental exams. It’s discouraging. At the same time, being unemployed is a burden not only to myself but the family. We are not given equal opportunities to compete,” said Chonpen, as he and his friends discussed about the manner of exams conducted in departments—the application fees are over-rated ranging from a Rs 100 to Rs 300, the advertisements for the vacant posts are just for namesake.
The protestors also mentioned that the civil service exams in the State are not 100 per cent fair. “Even if the marks you secure the cut off for the EAC post, unless you have some connection, they are going to push you to the post of a Secretariat Assistant,” said one.
Mhonbeni Kithan, another civil service aspirant spoke about the recently held exam at Food and Civil Supplies for two posts. “More than 3000 aspirants appeared for the exam on June 29 and within two days the results were declared. The way they conduct exams is suspicious. It is a huge discouragement for those who have worked hard especially lesser privileged aspirants,” Kithan said, while pointing out that despite supposed advertisements published by departments, most of the posts are already filled through backdoor. The unjust and unfair means of appointments are an injustice upon the sincere hardworking aspirants, she viewed.
At the protest, the placards seem to speak louder than words. Some of them read: ‘I dare to enter from the front door’; ‘Can you also enter Heaven through Backdoor means?’; ‘Your injustice took away our hardwork’; ‘Political appointment or backdoor appointment. Call it whatever you want. They are all the same for us- Unethical! Unfair’; ‘Free, Open and Fair Competition is our right’ etc.
Alen Yimchungrü, who was also in the protest said: “My father sold a plot of land to send me to Kohima to appear for civil service exams.” The young aspirant voiced out how he has lost hope because there is no fair way to become an officer in Nagaland if one is not privileged.
Quoting Nelson Mandela, ‘It seems impossible until it’s done’, Bendangrenla Anar, another protestor, stood up holding the megaphone speaker and shouted: “We have crossed the saturation point of tolerance. We may differ in ideas, methods, religion, approach and ideology but I believe our moral cause is one and it is big.”
Kevitho Kera, presenting a Christian viewpoint, noted how even church leaders today are compromising their integrity and beliefs by conniving with officers and bureaucrats to get their children jobs through backdoor appointments. “There is inefficiency in bureaucracy because of backdoor appointment,” viewed Kera who encouraged the protest to continue to spread the message of meritocracy.
During the protest, Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANSCU), Nagaland Law Students’ Union (NLSU), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) extended their solidarity to PSAN.
A five charter of demands was also submitted to the Chief Secretary. It demanded: immediate revocation of P&AR OM Dated 11th August 2016; immediate termination of all backdoor/contractual appointments to posts which are under the purview of the NPSC; immediate requisition of all the posts with Grade pay of 2800 and above to NPSC for direct recruitment, free, open and fair competition for entry into offices under Government of Nagaland in accordance with Article 16 under the Constitution of India; and immediate stop to rampant deputation on political grounds.
Chief Secretary assures to look into points of concerns
KOHIMA, JULY 3 (MExN): Following the submission of the PSAN demands in Kohima today, Nagaland State Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar assured to take reviews on the former’s points of concerns. He informed that appointments made on contract basis after June 6, 2016 will be reviewed by the State Government for termination and requisitioning of the posts to NPSC. The Chief Secretary added that the P&AR office memorandum dated August 11, 2016 regarding the regularisation of the government employees appointed on adhoc and contract basis will be taken up for review by the P&AR department. Further, he added that deputation to posts in various departments in the State Government falling within the purview of NPSC will be reviewed for necessary corrective action. The Chief Secretary meanwhile requested the PSAN to provide details of specific cases of appointments/deputations to facilitate the review of such cases.
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