Mokokchung, October 3 (MTNews): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) in a representation to the Chief Secretary & Government of Nagaland have put up three key demands that includes construction of boundary fence and re-allocation of land at Kohima Science College Autonomous Jotsoma, a Common Scholarship Nodal Cell and on the issue of shortage of teachers under Higher Education and non-payment of salaries to contractual teachers.
- Kohima Science College Autonomous Jotsoma
- Common Scholarship Nodal Cell
- Contractual teachers
The students’ union, while reiterating their appeal, also expressed their deepest anguish over the State government continuing to fail in upholding its commitment and assurance.
ANCSU while citing the long pending issue of the Kohima Science College Autonomous Jotsoma acknowledged the state government for taking up certain measures in settling the issue. However, the union claimed that the re-allocation of the required portion of land and boundary fence construction is “yet to see the light of the day.”
They recalled that the commitment to settle this issue was assured during the meetings held between ANCSU and Committee for settlement of KSCJ Land issue, set up by the state government.
The students’ union said that they have learnt that despite the proposal for boundary fence construction being recommended by the then Deputy Commissioner Kohima, the department of Higher Education and state government is “adamant in taking up necessary arrangements.”
The ANCSU therefore warned the government not to take the issue on “joy ride but rather keep its commitment for boundary fence construction and land (occupied) re-allocation” and added that failing to put its commitment into action within a month shall only invite confrontations.
ANCSU also demanded for a Common Scholarship Nodal Cell for transparency and proper implementation of scholarship schemes in Nagaland. While appreciating the government for setting up a Common Scholarship Portal, ANCSU expressed dismay over the knowledge they have learnt that “some departments are not willing to provide its scholarship details towards the common portal.”
ANCSU further questioned the departments as to why they were not willing to provide the details of the scholarship schemes. Furthermore, the union reminded the government that apart from the portal, a proper cell needs to be set up with concerned officers and staff, so as to ensure transparent and proper disbursement of various scholarship schemes.
“The ANCSU is aware of 18 scholarship schemes available in 13 departments and failure of some departments to provide necessary details to the common scholarship portal within a month time, which is managed by ITC, the union will be compelled to challenge these departments in any befitting manner,” it stated.
The ANCSU then expressed their shock as they have ascertained that the government colleges in Nagaland continue to function with shortage of teachers yet “the department is least concerned and never serious about the matter.”
“In the midst of such a depreciating situation, the introduction of the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) and New Education Policy has resulted in a requirement for more teaching faculty. The union is made to understand that there is a requirement of over 250 teachers for 15 government colleges, even with the existing regular and 160 contractual teachers under Higher Education,” the union stated.
The union then noted that the state government may have witnessed the test of time after several teacher issues came out one after the other in this connection and thus, called upon the department of Higher Education and the state government to solve the issue of contractual teachers under the Higher Education Department within one month to do away with random contractual experiments except on exigency.
At the same time, the union highlighted that the salaries of some contractual teachers have not been paid for the past 4 months even after utilizing their services. In this regard, the union asked the department and the government to immediately do the needful as such unnecessary harassment will eventually impact the teaching atmosphere.
The union further demanded for necessary post creation and recruitment without further delay, as shortage of teachers is directly affecting the students’ community.
“While considering that certain issues require certain time, the aforementioned issues have been brought to the notice of the state government on several occasions in the past 5 years. Therefore, the union finds no genuine reason as to why these issues would require more than a month’s time to be solved after these many years!`” the union stated and prayed that the government of the day would take up these issues on priority to avoid “academic recession and educational turbulence.”