The main Opposition Congress has openly flaunted that the State’s alleged financial mismanagement, huge anticipated deficit, loan component of Rs 8093.62 crore, siphoning off fund of various Centrally Sponsored Schemes including MGNREGA, SSA, etc. will top in the coming crucial 9th Session of the 11th Assembly beginning March 22.If one looks meticulously at the statements given by the Opposition Congress at different occasions to the media, it clearly shows they will up the ant to attack, with whatever strength they could muster this time, against the Chief Minister, who also holds Financial Portfolio, to come up with proper explanations with regard to the various alleged financial mismanagement and irregularities. On one of the comments given by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to media persons when the latter asked about the State budget to be presented by him, he responded that he would go ahead to presenting the full budget whether or not the State Annual Plan Size was finalized. The delay in finalizing State Plan Size has given room for suspicions by many about the health of the State finances.
The current Session may also witness the problem that ensued following the New Retirement Act came into force. As a result of this, nearly 7000 Government employees have been reportedly affected. And the Education Department itself has reportedly contributed to about 1100.
Nagaland Senior Government Employees’ Welfare Association (NSGEWA) has now even threatened to move court by filing PIL if Government failed to uphold the laid down rules and continue harassing the NSGEWA members. It also alleged that the Government has deliberately delayed the process of pension papers and all other benefits.
Many feel apprehensive that the vacancies caused following the implementation of the New Retirement Act may be filled through backdoor appointments. On the other hand, the Government is silent on this as to when and how the appointments to these vacancies will be filled. The Education Department is also likely to be cornered by the Opposition as they failed to resolve the issue of “teachers’ interview” with the Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF).
In a letter to the Education Director appended by ENSF president and vice president Hawang. T. Wangsha and Likhumse Sangtam, the student body reminded the department of its representation and consequent reminder submitted in December last year for implementation of Govt Relaxation Notification Order for exemption of professional qualification, i.e. PSTE/BE.D, for appointment to the posts of primary teacher and Graduate Teacher exclusively for the 6 tribes of Eastern Nagaland for a period of 10 years subject to review/revoke/continuation. However, it said the department has failed to implement the order in letter and spirit in the scheduled forthcoming interview.
The Nagaland University Tenyidie fiasco that occurred following the hasty application of so-called “online delivery of question papers implemented without facilitating proper training,” may also draw the attention of the House.
With regard to the “reservation polices” of the Government, the Assembly may also witness some hitch. This issue has rather brought some “misunderstanding” among the various tribes who are within the purview of this “reservation policy.” To cite an example, some section of people who are covered by the policy felt that their reservation could not be implementation due to the PIL filed by the Chakhesangs. Whereas the Chekhesangs had gone to the Court and filed PIL to seek justice on the reservation quota set for them. The PIL has nothing to do with that of the 25% reservation of the six tribes of the Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longlen as far as the PIL is concerned.
The State Government has constituted various Committees to look into the matter. The last one was the Temjen Toy Committee which has already submitted its report to the Government. According to information available, the recommendation of the Temjen Toy Committee is fairly done well. The Cabinet has already enhanced the quota percentage slightly for the aggrieved, yet the issue is still lingering. The Government may enlighten the House with various reports prepared by the various Committees, besides the Court judgments. This would subside whatever misunderstanding that cropped up and may lead to solution too.
The recent spurt of factional violence has threatened otherwise the peaceful environment that prevailed in the State following the reconciliation processes initiated by FNR and other agencies. Now the Naga civil societies including powerful Naga Hoho have openly warned that a day might come when the entire Naga populace would no longer be patient. Senior DAN Minister Dr Shurhozelie has broken his silence rejecting such unwanted development at this juncture. He even held those leaders of the underground factions responsible for the current unwanted development, asking them to respect the “voices of the Naga people.”
In fact, the ongoing peace process has become more complicated now following the recent spurt of factional violence in the State and other Naga inhabited areas, although everybody wants early solution to it. It is also difficult to blame the Government of India either at this juncture as the collective leadership of the NSCN(IM)--- Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah ---have openly acknowledged the sincerity of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh towards finding solution to the long-drawn-out Indo-Naga political issue. The basic question is who is not sincere to the issue now. It has to be found out. The current reconciliation process which has produced considerable amount of progress is getting almost bogged down. With a firm statement given to the concerned parties by FNR, coupled with strong warnings from civil societies; things may come back to the right track again. Yet very strong pressure is required at this moment to salvage the “reconciliation process” so that the top level reconciliation summit is done at the earliest.
It is however learned that the Joint Parliamentary Group (JPG) is reportedly sitting right after the first day’s assembly session in the Assembly Complex Hall purportedly to discuss on the current factional issue in the State. It is a good sign and it will show that the Ruling and the Opposition have one mind as far as the Naga issue is concerned.
Discussion on the demand of the ENPO for a separate state in the name and style of “Eastern Nagaland” may also come up in the current session. The ENPO has already submitted a Memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and they had reportedly met the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and also submitted to him the same Memorandum. They had even organized public rallies at all the district headquarters of the Tuengsang, Mon, Kiphire and Longlen as a follow up to their demand for a separate State of “Eastern Nagaland.” The House may appeal to the ENPO to reconsider their demand at this crucial juncture.
Water scarcity issue may still occupy the assembly as the issue remains the same as before. The Leader of Opposition had in the past raised a serious concern on water crises in the state capital; wherein he even cautioned that a time might come to think of having “Summer capital” and “Winter capital” due to want of water in the capital. It is not that the water is not available in the capital area and its surrounding villages.
As we all have seen in the capital that water is supplied mainly by various private parties at exorbitant rates. Water is there but the question is why the residents are made to pay exorbitantly and why not fixed a uniform rate or Government agencies coming in at least during this dry season to tide over the water crises. So far nobody is bothered from where the water is fetched.
The Leader of Opposition himself disclosed about his attempts, when he was PHE Minis ter, to tap water from the Southern Angami Villages. He was talking about the villagers’ denying. But the Southern Angami villagers denied the department’s charges. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, while sharing his point on the Floor of the House last on the water scarcity in the capital, also openly admitted his shame as being an Angami at not being able to provide sufficient water to the capital dwellers. But that wasn’t the issue here. The issue is how to work with the villagers of those villages where the water is to be tapped. There needs to be proper way of working. The Opposition may come up with serious concern on the rampant burning of forest, particularly the reserved ones. After every forest fire incident particularly the reserved ones, the Government would constitute a committee to probe. This will not help. The only way to prevent such recurrence of forest fire is to enforce the law enforcement agencies. The Government (Forest) has to deploy armed forest guards in sensitive and strategic locations, so that such recurrence will drastically come down and even poaching will drop to certain level.
Road Show issue may not be that important this time. Its popularity is dwindling down.
The current Session may also witness the problem that ensued following the New Retirement Act came into force. As a result of this, nearly 7000 Government employees have been reportedly affected. And the Education Department itself has reportedly contributed to about 1100.
Nagaland Senior Government Employees’ Welfare Association (NSGEWA) has now even threatened to move court by filing PIL if Government failed to uphold the laid down rules and continue harassing the NSGEWA members. It also alleged that the Government has deliberately delayed the process of pension papers and all other benefits.
Many feel apprehensive that the vacancies caused following the implementation of the New Retirement Act may be filled through backdoor appointments. On the other hand, the Government is silent on this as to when and how the appointments to these vacancies will be filled. The Education Department is also likely to be cornered by the Opposition as they failed to resolve the issue of “teachers’ interview” with the Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF).
In a letter to the Education Director appended by ENSF president and vice president Hawang. T. Wangsha and Likhumse Sangtam, the student body reminded the department of its representation and consequent reminder submitted in December last year for implementation of Govt Relaxation Notification Order for exemption of professional qualification, i.e. PSTE/BE.D, for appointment to the posts of primary teacher and Graduate Teacher exclusively for the 6 tribes of Eastern Nagaland for a period of 10 years subject to review/revoke/continuation. However, it said the department has failed to implement the order in letter and spirit in the scheduled forthcoming interview.
The Nagaland University Tenyidie fiasco that occurred following the hasty application of so-called “online delivery of question papers implemented without facilitating proper training,” may also draw the attention of the House.
With regard to the “reservation polices” of the Government, the Assembly may also witness some hitch. This issue has rather brought some “misunderstanding” among the various tribes who are within the purview of this “reservation policy.” To cite an example, some section of people who are covered by the policy felt that their reservation could not be implementation due to the PIL filed by the Chakhesangs. Whereas the Chekhesangs had gone to the Court and filed PIL to seek justice on the reservation quota set for them. The PIL has nothing to do with that of the 25% reservation of the six tribes of the Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longlen as far as the PIL is concerned.
The State Government has constituted various Committees to look into the matter. The last one was the Temjen Toy Committee which has already submitted its report to the Government. According to information available, the recommendation of the Temjen Toy Committee is fairly done well. The Cabinet has already enhanced the quota percentage slightly for the aggrieved, yet the issue is still lingering. The Government may enlighten the House with various reports prepared by the various Committees, besides the Court judgments. This would subside whatever misunderstanding that cropped up and may lead to solution too.
The recent spurt of factional violence has threatened otherwise the peaceful environment that prevailed in the State following the reconciliation processes initiated by FNR and other agencies. Now the Naga civil societies including powerful Naga Hoho have openly warned that a day might come when the entire Naga populace would no longer be patient. Senior DAN Minister Dr Shurhozelie has broken his silence rejecting such unwanted development at this juncture. He even held those leaders of the underground factions responsible for the current unwanted development, asking them to respect the “voices of the Naga people.”
In fact, the ongoing peace process has become more complicated now following the recent spurt of factional violence in the State and other Naga inhabited areas, although everybody wants early solution to it. It is also difficult to blame the Government of India either at this juncture as the collective leadership of the NSCN(IM)--- Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah ---have openly acknowledged the sincerity of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh towards finding solution to the long-drawn-out Indo-Naga political issue. The basic question is who is not sincere to the issue now. It has to be found out. The current reconciliation process which has produced considerable amount of progress is getting almost bogged down. With a firm statement given to the concerned parties by FNR, coupled with strong warnings from civil societies; things may come back to the right track again. Yet very strong pressure is required at this moment to salvage the “reconciliation process” so that the top level reconciliation summit is done at the earliest.
It is however learned that the Joint Parliamentary Group (JPG) is reportedly sitting right after the first day’s assembly session in the Assembly Complex Hall purportedly to discuss on the current factional issue in the State. It is a good sign and it will show that the Ruling and the Opposition have one mind as far as the Naga issue is concerned.
Discussion on the demand of the ENPO for a separate state in the name and style of “Eastern Nagaland” may also come up in the current session. The ENPO has already submitted a Memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and they had reportedly met the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and also submitted to him the same Memorandum. They had even organized public rallies at all the district headquarters of the Tuengsang, Mon, Kiphire and Longlen as a follow up to their demand for a separate State of “Eastern Nagaland.” The House may appeal to the ENPO to reconsider their demand at this crucial juncture.
Water scarcity issue may still occupy the assembly as the issue remains the same as before. The Leader of Opposition had in the past raised a serious concern on water crises in the state capital; wherein he even cautioned that a time might come to think of having “Summer capital” and “Winter capital” due to want of water in the capital. It is not that the water is not available in the capital area and its surrounding villages.
As we all have seen in the capital that water is supplied mainly by various private parties at exorbitant rates. Water is there but the question is why the residents are made to pay exorbitantly and why not fixed a uniform rate or Government agencies coming in at least during this dry season to tide over the water crises. So far nobody is bothered from where the water is fetched.
The Leader of Opposition himself disclosed about his attempts, when he was PHE Minis ter, to tap water from the Southern Angami Villages. He was talking about the villagers’ denying. But the Southern Angami villagers denied the department’s charges. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, while sharing his point on the Floor of the House last on the water scarcity in the capital, also openly admitted his shame as being an Angami at not being able to provide sufficient water to the capital dwellers. But that wasn’t the issue here. The issue is how to work with the villagers of those villages where the water is to be tapped. There needs to be proper way of working. The Opposition may come up with serious concern on the rampant burning of forest, particularly the reserved ones. After every forest fire incident particularly the reserved ones, the Government would constitute a committee to probe. This will not help. The only way to prevent such recurrence of forest fire is to enforce the law enforcement agencies. The Government (Forest) has to deploy armed forest guards in sensitive and strategic locations, so that such recurrence will drastically come down and even poaching will drop to certain level.
Road Show issue may not be that important this time. Its popularity is dwindling down.
