Joint coordination committee (JCC), comprising CANSSEA, FONSESA, NIDA, NSSA, and NF & ASA, on Tuesday began three-day “pen down strike” to protest against the state government’s decision to induct non-state civil service (non-SCS) officers into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The strike affected the functioning of government offices across Nagaland.
JCC core committee member Imtiwabang Jamir told Nagaland Post that the response was overwhelming on the first day of the three-day strike, saying the support from both the districts offices and the capital was “very positive”. He said the strike saw huge participation of almost all government employees.
Jamir informed that JCC formed mobile squad teams that went around to check if the employees were participating. He said they were “very happy” that all the government employees showed their support. He also expressed gratitude to all the employees for support, adding they were fighting for a good cause.
Jamir also said that as per the guidelines issued earlier, all the employees attended office but did not work. He informed that they had not received any notification or calls from the government till now but are hopeful as they continue this three-day strike.
NTPRADAO backs JCC’s demand: Nagaland Transparency Public Rights Advocacy and Direct Action Organization (NTPRADAO) has extended strong support to the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), comprising CANSSEA, FONSESA, NIDA, NSSA, and NF&ASA, and also backed by the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association, in their protest against the state government’s alleged favouritism and nepotism in the induction of non-State Civil Service (non-SCS) officers into the IAS.
In a joint statement NTPRADAO vice president Zuchamo Patton, secretary general Ikato Sumi, and general secretary Tumbeni Kithan, have condemned the government’s “practice of encouraging backdoor entries into the IAS”- a service, which it said demanded rigorous examination and merit-based selection.
NTPRADAO pointed out that many non-SCS officers, like those in IAS, dedicated years of study, resilience, and hard work to qualify through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) exams. It asked, when the state government talked of meritocracy through NPSC and NSSB, why was nepotism for those who have not burnt the midnight oil even for a minute or struggle to study for a day, inducted to IAS through backdoor?
Demanding transparency and fairness in the induction process, NTPRADAO reiterated that it advocated for the selection of the most eligible and deserving non-SCS officers who were recruited through the constitutionally mandated NPSC for induction to IAS cadre.
NTPRADAO appealed to all right-thinking people, writers, intellectuals, and civil society organizations to support the JCC’s stand to ensure a merit-based, transparent system that safeguards the future generations.