DIMAPUR, JUN 24 (NPN): United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) has expressed serious concern over what it described as “widespread culture of administrative absenteeism” in Kiphire district, alleging that the prolonged absence of senior government officials was hampering governance, public service delivery and development.
In a press note, USSC stated that surprise inspections conducted on May 25 and May 26 revealed alarming levels of absenteeism among several senior officials, a trend it said continued to undermine the developmental aspirations of one of Nagaland’s most remote districts.
Aspirational district, developmental consequences: USSC noted that despite Kiphire’s designation as an Aspirational District under NITI Aayog– aimed at accelerating development through targeted government interventions– progress remained constrained by the absence of key officials from their place of posting.
According to USSC, lack of regular administrative presence has weakened governance structures and reduced public access to essential government services.
‘DPDB-centric’ administration: The conference alleged that several heads of departments (HoDs) reside outside the district, primarily in Dimapur and Kohima, and visit Kiphire only during monthly District Planning and Development Board meetings and other official functions. USSC said such a practice defeats the purpose of district-level administration, limits accessibility and weakens accountability.
‘Signature tourism’ and administrative inefficiency: USSC also highlighted what it termed “signature tourism,” wherein subordinate staff were compelled to travel outside the district to obtain signatures and approvals from absentee officers.
It said the practice results in unnecessary expenditure of public resources, places an additional burden on lower-ranking employees and causes avoidable delays in the implementation of government services and developmental programmes.
Call for accountability: The conference said it has formally petitioned the deputy commissioner (DC) Kiphire and urged the state government to verify the allegations and take appropriate action against officials found to be violating service rules.
It reiterated that under Fundamental Rule 17(1), unauthorised absence from duty attracts the principle of “No Work, No Pay.”
The USSC warned that if the issue remained unaddressed, it reserved the right to pursue legal remedies, including seeking judicial intervention through a writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution to ensure the discharge of public duties by the authorities concerned.
Proposed reforms: While demanding accountability, the conference acknowledged the infrastructural challenges faced by officials posted in remote districts and proposed a series of reforms.
It called for the introduction of biometric attendance and geo-fencing systems linked to salary disbursement to enhance transparency and accountability.
USSC urged the state government to expedite the construction of the proposed officers’ residential colony. It said adequate housing facilities would help address genuine hardships faced by officers posted in the district.
However, USSC maintained that accommodation-related challenges cannot justify widespread absenteeism and urged officials to utilise available options while prioritising the needs of the public.
The conference also proposed the creation of a quarterly monitoring and review mechanism comprising representatives of the district administration, civil society organisations and student bodies to assess attendance, service delivery and governance outcomes.
Stressing that public office is a position of trust and responsibility, the USSC said the development of Kiphire “cannot and must not be held hostage to the convenience of a few.”
USSC called upon the state government and all responsible authorities to take immediate measures to restore administrative integrity, strengthen accountability and ensure that the district’s developmental aspirations were not compromised.
The conference also expressed its willingness to address local grievances and challenges faced by officers in order to facilitate efficient public service delivery and strengthen public confidence in government institutions.
Reaffirming its commitment to work with all departments and stakeholders for the welfare and progress of the district, the USSC said meaningful development could only be achieved through collective responsibility and mutual cooperation.