The Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) has extended its full support to the Concerned Aspirants Group, backing their call for the state government to provide age relaxation for government job applicants in light of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press release issued on Monday, CNSA urged the state government to consider extending the maximum age limit for government job applicants to 37 years. The association stated that the pandemic had led to widespread delays in recruitment processes, leaving many qualified individuals unable to meet the current age criteria.
“The COVID-19 pandemic delayed career opportunities for millions of individuals across the country and the state, many of whom now find themselves unable to meet the current age criteria due to the prolonged public health crisis,” read the CNSA statement.
CNSA highlighted the disruptions caused by nationwide lockdowns and the suspension of business activities, which affected various sectors, including government job recruitment. The association pointed out that many candidates who were preparing for government exams found their efforts abruptly halted.
“This has unfairly penalized individuals who have crossed the age limit through no fault of their own,” CNSA said. “By extending the age limit to 37 years, the government can ensure that qualified candidates who lost crucial years during the pandemic are not denied the opportunity to contribute to the public sector.”
According to CNSA, many job seekers have expressed frustration over the inflexibility of the current age criteria, especially given the extraordinary challenges posed by COVID-19.
CNSA urged the government to take immediate steps to provide an age relaxation of up to 37 years for all government job applicants, ensuring fair and equal opportunities for all. The CNSA also called for a review of recruitment policies that account for pandemic-related disruptions, so that no candidate is unfairly disadvantaged in the future.
The students’ body emphasized that the pandemic had disproportionately affected the career prospects of young professionals. CNSA expressed hope that the government would act quickly to address the issue, giving individuals a fair chance to pursue their career aspirations despite the delays.