The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio urging him to direct the department of personnel and administrative reforms to set up a Staff Selection Board (SSB) committee within two months.
NSF president Ninoto Awomi and general secretary Liremo K. Kikon in a release on Thursday said the SSB committee should comprise members from the department concerned and experts to draft board’s policy in line with states like Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh.
An NSF team, led by their president Ninoto Awomi, called on Rio in his office in Kohima to apprise him and seek his support on the various pressing issues confronting the student community in the state.
The NSF impressed upon the chief minister to do away with the departmental exams immediately. It demanded that all vacancies for Grade III posts, which do not fall under the purview of Nagaland Public Service Commission, should come under the SSB for open competition.
It urged Rio that a cabinet decision to this effect be taken immediately, notification issued and accordingly notified in the official gazette within the stipulated period of two months.
When apprised about the All Nagaland College Students Union’s five-point charter of demands, Rio said the right steps forward have already been taken by his government and that the matter would be solved at the earliest, the release said.
The NSF said Rio acknowledged that setting up of SSB is the need of hour to root out corruption and take forth the culture of meritocracy.
The CM explained to the NSF the “certain practical difficulties” confronting his government while setting up the SSB and its implementation.
Rio, however, assured to discuss the matter with his cabinet colleagues and legislators and take the right steps at the earliest, the release said.
He also expressed his happiness at the NSF for taking a leadership role on the issue and is optimistic that the involvement of the student body will hasten the process.
Rio congratulated the new NSF team and assured it of his government’s fullest support to its initiatives and endeavours, the release said.