Affirming that it stood committed to the “Indo-Naga” political issue, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has said that it would leave no stones unturned to push for early settlement to the “protracted Indo-Naga political issue vis-a-vis peace process.”
In a press release, NSF president Kegwayhun Tep and general secretary Süpuni Ng Philo have appealed for peace and unity among the Nagas. The NSF also appealed to all the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) to come together under one table for “an early inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political issue.”
Further, the federation urged the Government of India to expedite the process with the negotiating parties and ink the final agreement without delay.
Further, asserting that it was “deeply committed” to ensuring all students welfare issues were effectively dealt with, the NSF has vowed to actively pursue several other issues including Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB), SSA & RMSA teachers, 2010 & 2013 batches, e-governance and COVID-19 related issues.
With regard to NSSB, the federation has appealed to the state government not to further delay the implementation of NSSB. It demanded that the government make NSSB fully functional as there was rise in the number of educated unemployed youth in the state.
NSF also stated that the state government should revise and resolve the Reservation Policy in the state “within the legally permissible jurisdiction without delay.”
On SSA & RMSA teachers’ issue, the federation said it was committed to ensure that the agreement signed on October 18, 2020 pertaining to the rationalization of SSA & RMSA teachers was materialised in letter and spirit.
The federation cautioned that it would no longer tread lightly on the matter if the state government did not honour the agreement.
On e-governance, the federation said effective implementation of e-governance would bring about ‘transparency’ in governance. Access to accurate and updated information with regard to various State Government’s functionaries, departments (including District Administration) and agencies, the NSF said must be made readily available in the public domain in compliance with the laid down guidelines for departmental websites (GIGW). In this regard, the federation strongly maintained that e-governance was a tool to bring ‘transparency’ and check corruption.
Acknowledging the hardships of the student community and parents in general, the NSF has appealed to all the educational institutions to waive off school fees owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The federation also appealed to the state government not to shut down stationery shops and bookstores during the lockdown in order to readily make accessible the basic needs and requirements of the student community.
Further, NSF urged the state government to maintain transparency in utilisation of COVID-19 funds.
Meanwhile, NSF has constituted committees during the first official meeting NSF 2021-23. It said that public grievances redressel cell would be headed by its vice president Atokiho Sumi as convenor and secretary education Medovi Rhi as co-convenor and media cell would be led by secretary information & publicity Mteisuding as convenor and secretary games & sports Kaisü Chakre as co-convenor.