The esteemed local daily, The Morung Express in its 31st July 2009 issue under the caption “NSF saddened” has attracted me to write to express some of my thoughts to the public to judge on us on the most talk about subject “Superannuation Issue”. It said NSF was very saddened for few senior employees have gone to court against the Nagaland Retirement from public service 2nd Amendment Bill 2009. It went on to say that the decision of the Government to limit the service length of the Government employees to 35 years was a ‘Landmark decision’.
It is ridiculous that the apex body of the students organization in the State, the NSF is very saddened because some one is speaking one’s own right. Is it not worst than a Dictator? It is a tyranny that they are saddened for some people speaking of their own constitutional right. I remind them that we are trying to defend our rights and bring out service rules but not through a notification like a person of persona non grata. We have not done anything wrong in our service. Therefore, we deserve graceful retirement by superannuation age i.e. 60 years and there is nothing unlawful for us to either ask the government or through the court of law that we may be given retirement according to the laid down service rules. Why NSF is saddened?
Truly speaking, the Government decision to enhance the superannuation age of the Government employees from 57 years to 60 years was the most famous and noble decision the Government has ever taken for the welfare of its employees after her Statehood. But the Bill to cut it shorter by application of length of service to a limit of 35 years was unfortunate, detrimental and infringement to the rights of all Government employees. It is only to meet the selfish desire of few senior students who are impatiently waiting to get into Government job.
It is pertinent to mention that Nagaland has altogether 11 districts under its administration but as for NSF is concerned, despite its nomenclature covers only 7 districts in its cluster leaving alone 4 major districts namely- Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng which constitute nearly 45% of the total strength of Naga Students. The ENSF has not affiliated with the NSF nor supporting the NSF in the superannuation issue. Again from the remaining 55% a considerable percentage of students are from outside Nagaland map which we will never allow them to poke their nose into Nagaland Government affairs particularly in the Nagaland Government servants conduct rules.
Lastly, we the Government servants are not allowing our children to join NSF to go against the Government decision or in such a wrong notion as superannuation issue. How many percentages of students in the NSF left to be called NSF? To pressurize the Government or to confuse the Naga public?
We the members of Senior Government Employees Welfare Association are not 2nd class citizens of Nagaland. We are at liberty to express and defend our rights and for doing so NSF should not be saddened.
Medoselhou
Chairman, NDMSA
