As one of the NPSC victims towards the payment of Rs.200/- & Rs.300/- for NPSC exam 2011 & 2012 respectively I am compelled to issue this rejoinder to the press statement of NPSC. The first and foremost question to be answered by NPSC is whether NPSC is in a position to reduce the Rs.300/- which is claimed by candidates/students as exorbitant and the money was charged even before the conduct of exam. And as stated by NPSC the Rs.300/- is charged for the exam entirely i.e Preliminary, Mains and Interview. And in this regard is it reasonable to charge entirely irrespective of qualifying for Mains or Interviews? And what about the several thousands of candidates who had paid for the exam fees entirely and could not qualified for Mains? Is there any provision to claim any sum of money from NPSC for the unsuccessful candidates for not applying or writing Mains & Interviews? However, NPSC is still trying to justify in such a manner that the charges is still at a lower rate stating that they spent Rs.700/- to Rs.1000/- per candidate in all three stages of exam. Is it NPSC is managing the exams entirely depending on the money collected from candidates/applicants? Is that Government not giving or sanctioned any money to NPSC for the conduct of exams? What is the difference between UPSC & NPSC? As far as my knowledge is concerned candidates who were taking part in UPSC exams do not pay any money towards examination fees rather the UPSC aspirants were encourage from different corners by way of monetary supports. Is this the act of NPSC encouraging our own naga NPSC aspirants? In fact NPSC has increased the exam fees by Rs.100/- this year and NPSC may increase the exam fees every year. Is that the exorbitant exam fees helping the NPSC? In what way? Is that to avoid further scam or to increase more scam? Anyway RTI is there to set the record to light and no point of raising further.
Actually the charges of Rs.300/- charged by NPSC for exam form was discuss during the conduct of legal literacy & awareness campaign by Kohima Law College & NVCO led by Kezhokhoto Savi and in the gathering the participants express their opinion terming the NPSC charging Rs.300/- as exorbitant and amounting to day light robbery and it pinches the applicants. Subsequently, the Kohima Law College & NVCO team clarified through local newspaper stating that the form can be downloaded from internet and can even collect from respective D.C office free of cost but it is compulsory to pay the Rs.300/- while submitting the exam(Prelim) form. Therefore, the team confirmed their stand as exorbitant and further appealed NPSC to reduce and have mercy towards the aspirant candidates and of course many of these law students are the NPSC exam victims as far the fees are concern.
NPSC is adamant towards the appeal of students' grievances and rather justifying their stand speaking in such a manner that the Rs.300/- is still at a lower rate and I see the danger what will be the faith of applicants/candidates whose parents are poor and hardly supporting them? In my own community I know a family the children were doing well in studies but the poor parents were in great difficulty to support them and this year three of them applied for NPSC exam (Prelim) and it was very challenging to learn that the poor parent could to manage to get money to pay for their for their exam out of selling vegetables cultivating in their own field. As welcome by NPSC my constructive suggestion is first look into the grievances of the applicants/candidates/students as a genuine cry. And I for one I fully support and appreciate the appeal and initiative of NVCO in having genuine concerns for the younger generation and contributing commendable services to the people in the state.
Akavi Chophy,
Law Student & resident of Themezie colony, Kohima
