Kohima, Mar 22: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) met Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and
apprised him of several concerns on behalf of the student community.
A release issued by NSF informed that the Federation
submitted a representation to the chief minister to highlight issues which are
pending or are yet to be taken up by the government. One of the issues included
delay in the distribution of free school uniforms and textbooks. The NSF
informed that in almost all the schools there were serious delay in
distribution of these items.
Regarding the Mid Day Meal scheme, the NSF stated some
schools have not provided the meals even once for the previous academic
session. “We are amazed to discover precisely a contradictory scenario and the
schemes never reached the grassroots for whom the project was intended for,”
the NSF stated. The students’ body alleged that the amount sanctioned for the
scheme “were siphoned off by some unscrupulous elements.” It demanded that
disciplinary measures be initiated to penalize those responsible. In this
regard, the NSF urged the Nagaland CM to expedite the investigation process
being undertaken by the State Vigilance Commission through a Case for
investigation into irregularities and mismanagement of Mid Day Meal Scheme.
Another issue the NSF highlighted was the School Education
departmental examination. It reminded the CM that the federation had appealed
for selection of indigenous inhabitant applicants of the state on priority with
regard to the exam held on September 2017. It stated the then School Education
Minister had replied for consideration of only eligible applicants of the
indigenous inhabitants of the State. The NSF however lamented that as per the
results “it appeared that candidates selected were against the aspiration and
voice of the student community.” It therefore demanded that the selection of
non-indigenous inhabitant applicants of the state be nullified and the waiting
list of merit indigenous inhabitant applicants be considered for selection to
the vacant posts. The NSF also expressed concern that despite written assurance
given by the Government to disburse the total amount of post metric
scholarship, there are still around 12,000 students yet to receive their due
shares for the year 2016-2017.
It asked the CM to take necessary action so as to enable for
payment of the pending scholarship at the earliest.
The NSF meanwhile highlighted other issues not solely
concerning students. One such was the Inner Line Permit (ILP). The NSF pointed
to the influx of non-locals and illegal immigrants into the state and the lack
of stringent implementation of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BERF)
Act of 1873. The provisions of BERF Act 1873 are too old and many of its
provisions are irrelevant in our present context, the NSF stated. Having aired
their concerns to the Chief Secretary in October 2017, the federation lamented
that there has not been any response on the issue yet. The NSF also took the
opportunity to express concern at the Aadhaar Card/UID being made compulsory.
“The NSF considers the imposition of Aadhaar card/UID number as a big threat to
Naga customary law and identity. It is nothing but a direct challenge of
privacy threatening even the idea of Nagas right to self-determination.
Imposing of such drastic nationalising policy upon the Nagas pending the final
Indo-Naga solution is thus inimical to the process of Indo-Naga Peace
Dialogue,” it stated. UNI
