Aghunato, August 5 (MExN): The Eastern Sumi Students’ Union (ESSU) has issued an ultimatum to resume the construction works of schools in four villages under SDEO Aghunato on or before August 20.
It has also demanded that the offenders should be penalized on or before August 20 and that the office of the ESSU be intimated in written form regarding the action taken.
In its letter to the State Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha on August 5, the ESSU highlighted the sequence of events leading to the ultimatum.
Earlier, on June 26, the ESSU had drawn attention to the incomplete and abandoned school building constructions in four villages under SDEO Aghunato, namely GMS Viyilho, GMS Kelto, GMS Shevishe and GMS Ngozubomi.
After the issue was made public, the Assistant District Coordinator (ADC), Samagra Shiksha, District Mission Authority Zunheboto (DMAZ) called a meeting on July 1. The ESSU said that it had officially replied about its inability to attend the meeting as it was not convened by the competent authority.
“However, the DMAZ went ahead with the meeting with some School Management Committees (SMC) members, and a head teacher, cheating them of the presence of Deputy Commissioner/Chairman District Education Committee and District Education Officer/ District Project Coordinator in the meeting and adopted the resolutions as per their convenience,” ESSU alleged.
It further stated that the July 1 meeting and resolutions were condemned and nullified on August 1 in a joint meeting of Village Councils, GBs, School Management Committees, Village Students’ Union and ESSU.
Having lost its faith on the DMAZ and not receiving any response from the higher authority for a permanent solution to the issue, the ESSU said that it had written a representation to the Principal Director of School Education, Nagaland on July 5, requesting to initiate steps for the early completion of school building projects and to punish the offenders involved in this case.
The ESSU said it received an official order issued by the State Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha, Nagaland Education Mission Society (NEMS) regarding “Non completion of construction of 4 SSA School buildings under Aghunato Sub Division” on July 27.
They then discussed with the affected village students’ bodies and village authorities regarding the order. While appreciating the response from the competent State authority, the affected village authorities and the Eastern Sumi Students’ Union (ESSU) could not accept the solution, ESSU said.
The Union could not accept the solution as they were taken on the basis of resolutions adopted on the ‘unofficial meeting’ of July 1.
After a prolonged silence, the ADC Samagra Shiksha, DMAZ issued a press release on August 4 in response to the Eastern Sumi Students’ Union (ESSU) and its Units.
While the ESSU said it was expecting ‘something logical’ in response to its demands, it expressed dismay at the accusation labelled against the Union, stating that they are “targeting the DEO and Deputy Commissioner.”
The Union quoted the Samagra Shiksha, State Mission Office order which stated that the final installment of the funds has already been released and, “the District Mission Authority was required to release funds to the respective Village Education Committees /SMCs after necessary verification and satisfaction of completion of works as stipulated. However, even after release of full payment by the State Mission Authority, construction of these schools has not been completed and has been abandoned, nor was the status reported to the State Mission Authority for many years.”
Asserting that the ADC Samagra Shiksha “must not act as if he is the spokesperson of Nagaland Education Mission Society (NEMS), the Deputy Commissioner and the District Education Officer Zunheboto,” the ESSU said the ADC “should instead tender an unconditional apology to the general public of the affected villages in particular and Aghunato area in general for deliberately delaying the constructions, thereby stagnating human resource development in the area for nearly a decade.”
Maintaining that the students’ bodies are demanding something which should have been completed 8-9 years ago, the ESSU said it has issued its ultimatum.
The ESSU has demanded the resumption of school building construction works in the four villages on or before August 20. The construction of the school buildings should be done strictly as per the work order specification including the ramps/handrails for children with special needs, rainwater harvesting facility, furniture, play material, fire extinguishers and electrification. It has also demanded that the offenders should be penalized on or before August 20.
“If steps are not initiated as demanded, the Union shall take its own course of action,” the ESSU cautioned.
