Over 23,000 young Naga aspirants are currently braving the Physical Endurance Test (PET) for just 154 Forest Guard posts under the Nagaland Forest Department. The sheer volume of applicants, averaging 150 contenders per vacancy, is a sobering reflection of two undeniable realities: the desperation for government jobs and the alarming unemployment rate in the state. But beneath the surface lies a deeper, more troubling question—will merit truly matter in the end?
In Nagaland, the specter of “backdoor appointments” is not new. Allegations of corruption in public recruitment, whether whispered in corridors or shouted in protests, are a staple of everyday conversation. And when such practices are reportedly seen even in high-ranking gazetted posts or in something as basic as two-wheeler taxi permits, skepticism around Forest Guard recruitment is hardly surprising. The Naga public, long wearied by systemic corruption, has every reason to wonder whether these PETs are genuine assessments of fitness and merit or elaborate theatre, staged to lend legitimacy to decisions already made behind closed doors.
What makes this worse is the normalization of corruption. In a society where those who play fair are considered naïve, and those who bend the rules are deemed “smart,” disillusionment sets in early. When honesty is punished and deceit rewarded, what incentive remains for hard work? And how can a state expect its youth to believe in the power of perseverance when the system so often betrays them?
To be clear, the open recruitment process is a welcome departure from outright backdoor appointments. It at least offers a glimmer of fairness. But this glimmer must not become a smokescreen. The Forest Department and the state government must go beyond conducting tests; they must ensure transparency at every stage. Merit lists must be public, selection criteria clear, and any allegation of manipulation swiftly addressed.
For now, thousands of hopefuls are running, quite literally, towards a job and a future. Let it not be in vain. If Nagaland is to reclaim its integrity, it must begin by proving to its youth that fairness is still possible and that the race is not already rigged.
