Tiyi Wildlife Conservation and Animal-Human Conflict Control Society (TWC & A-HCCS) Wokha and Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) Public Grievances Department (PGD) have strongly condemned the remarks made by Forest minister CL John on the floor of the assembly, where he allegedly said that “Humans are winning the war where 12 elephants died and only 8 humans died”.
TWC & A-HCCS: Tiyi Wildlife Conservation and Animal-Human Conflict Control Society (TWC & A-HCCS) Wokha has also strongly condemned forest minister CL John’s “frivolous connotation of words” on the floor of the Assembly.
TWC & A-HCCS through its convenor Khyolamo Humtsoe and general secretary Zujanbemo Kithan said his remarks have deeply hurt the sentiments of the victims’ families caused by Animal-Human conflicts in Wokha district.
TWC & A-HCCS stated that it had been mitigating issues relating to Animal-Human conflicts in the district for the last nine years and working for peaceful co-existence to bring an end between the elephant menace and the farmers.
Stating that it has been “deeply discouraged by his brutal remarks”, the TWC & A-HCCS said the minister mocking eight unfortunate victims without showing any remorse or contrition was “immature and discourteous.”
The society has therefore sought unconditional apology from the minister to the victims’ families and the Lotha public in general.
NPCC: NPCC PGD through its communications department stated that human lives were not a joke. NPCC said that CL John being a senior politician and minister should be more responsible in his statements. It said that making fun of human lives and the losses that occurred to farmers was not acceptable.
Meanwhile, PGD has demanded for immediate requisition of 149 forest guards, 15 foresters-I, one ACF, eight forest rangers and 21 deputy rangers in the forest department.
PGD stated that forest guard (grade-III post) has to be recruited through NSSB.
It stated that 34 posts advertised for Kiphire and Longleng in 2017 and 115 forest guards in 2023 had to be through NSSB for open recruitment.
As per RTI report received in September 2023, PGD said the number of vacancies of forest guards was 115, but the minister in his statement said there were 130 vacancies.
Therefore, PGD has reminded the department to stop manipulating the RTIs.
It stated that RTI reply did not show the report of five appointees in Forester-1. PGD said 10 vacancies of forester-1 which clearly fell under the purview of NPSC.
PGD affirmed that it would not accept the Cabinet Agenda no. 6 dated June 12, 2023 to keep in abeyance the advertised post of forest guards till a decision was taken by the Cabinet.
In this regard, PGD has demanded immediate requisition of one ACF, eight forest rangers, 21 deputy rangers, and all the posts mentioned to concerned commissions by September 2023 and issue a copy NPCC, PGD.