NVCO asks govt to set up probe agency to assess Upa-Lokayukta candidates

Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO) has targeted the government on appointment of the state Upa Lokayukta and demanded setting up of a competent investigating agency to probe the assets and properties of the intending candidates and to ascertain how such wealth was accumulated while in service as a bureaucrat/public servant.
NVCO, through its press and media cell, also questioned the state government particularly cabinet ministers and politicians on why they choose to appoint “retired, corrupted bureaucrats/public servants” to such post which such candidates are not suitable in view of their dubious records.
Furthermore, NVCO has slammed the government for appointing persons who are affiliated with the political party to the Lokayukta and state commissions as chairmen /member. NVCO said such persons will not have any obligation to check misappropriation or corruption in the government.
NVCO strongly urged the state government, particularly the two-member search committee, to find a competent person to be appointed as Upa-Lokayukta, who does not have any record of corrupt practices and no pending cases against them and most importantly not affiliated to a political party.
NVCO in particular cited the case of the vacancy to Lokayukta in 2015 after the incumbent resigned. It said the then Governor had sent three reminders to the state government for filling up the post but which was not done. NVCO said the then Governor had also returned back the Nagaland Lokayukta (Amendment No 2) Bill 2021 to the assembly speaker for reconsideration since the bill would not be in the interest of transparent governance if the tenure by one year.
However, NVCO said the bill was passed after the present Governor gave assent and fulfilled the “biggest dream” of the “opposition-less government”.
NVCO in particular raised the issue of appointment of non government persons to ranks equivalent to that of commissioners, secretaries/joint secretaries/PRO/media officers/assistants besides appointing non-elected persons as advisers with cabinet rank who don’t attend office but draw salaries and perks, misuse of positions etc.
According to NVCO the corrupt practices that have plagued Nagaland were in the form of abuse of power, nepotism, bribery, extortion, embezzlement, fraud etc including deduction in the name of party fund, project fund.
NVCO said rampant corruption in the state ensured that there was budget deficit every year and that the deficit for 2021 has reached Rs.2679.46 crore and still increasing.