CTAN, NNQF express gratitude, says ‘struggle not over yet’

ByMOKOKCHUNG TIMES

May 6, 2025 #CTAN, #Nagaland, #NNQF

The Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF), which led a weeks-long protest against the controversial absorption of 147 Assistant Professors and Librarians into the state’s Higher Education Department, have issued a public statement expressing gratitude to supporters—while cautioning that what has been achieved so far is “only a symbolic gain.”

In a detailed joint statement titled ”Statement of Gratitude and Clarification,” the two bodies thanked “every individual, union, organisation, institution, and well-wisher” for backing their protest against what they term the “arbitrary absorption” of faculty without adherence to due recruitment procedures.

The appointment of 147 individuals had drawn criticism from several corners of Nagaland’s academic and civil society, with CTAN and NNQF alleging that the move undermined merit-based hiring and violated constitutional norms regarding public service recruitment.

“We are people who believe in truth, fairness, and the dignity of honest labour,” the statement said. “Let history remember that when justice was tested, we rose together.”

The statement, while celebratory in tone for the solidarity it received—from student unions, research forums, church bodies, media houses, and civil society groups—was clear that the core issue remains unresolved.

“Many are under the impression that we have already achieved victory, but this is not the case. What we see now is only a symbolic gain, a decoy trophy at best,” the statement reads. “The true and final victory lies ahead in the just resolution of the requisition issue and the restoration of due process.”

The protest saw broad-based support, with the organizations thanking local taxi unions, business groups like United Traders, and informal groups such as the Hogsrollers for logistical support and refreshments. Coaching centers and study halls were acknowledged for offering space and moral backing.

Particular appreciation was extended to the media, who were lauded for standing “shoulder to shoulder” with protestors. “Through your lens and words, the truth reached the people, and our struggle found an audience far beyond the streets,” the statement said.

The role of the church, especially the Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC), was also highlighted: “Your spiritual intervention gave us strength, peace, and courage in moments of uncertainty.”

CTAN and NNQF’s protest, largely peaceful and marked by calls for procedural fairness, has tapped into wider frustrations about the state of public appointments in Nagaland. Observers note that the case has opened a new chapter in civil society engagement over institutional accountability in the state.

While the government has revoked the cabinet order which regularized the contractual appointees, the CTAN and NNQF has demanded for the requisition of the posts to the NPSC. The associations say their vigilance will continue. “We move forward determined to remain vigilant and united in the face of any future injustice,” they declared, calling the movement a “call to all Nagas: to stand as one people, for what is right, and for what is just.”

As the matter remains unresolved, the spotlight now shifts to the state government—and whether it will acknowledge the demand for a merit-based recruitment process or continue to evade the core concerns raised by the academic community.