ENSF renews demand for fulfillment of 5-point charter of demands

Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF) has demanded the fulfillment of its five-point charter of demands related to educational sector in four Eastern Nagaland districts - Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng.

The federation also warned that the state government and the education department would be held responsible if ENSF’s demands were not met “on or before” July 31, 2013.

In a statement, ENSF president Likhumse Sangtam and general secretary Honang M. Jessuhu said ENSF on April 22, 2013 had served a reminder to the government to fulfill and implement all the outcome of Niathu resort meeting on February 3, 2012.

ENSF said the state government had convened a joint consultative meeting with the chief minister along with along with other legislators and department representatives at Niathu resort. ENSF’s five-point charter of demands was thoroughly discussed and the state government had subsequently agreed to fulfill all the demands.

The first   related to the reprocessing of 497 new posts which were proposed for creation during 2011-12 but not approved by the government of India due to non-filling up of earlier sanction posts to be “earmarked exclusively” for the four districts of Eastern Nagaland.

The second  was filling up of 220 teachers posts being proposed for the 11 (eleven) model schools to be set up in Eastern Nagaland by the candidates from the six tribes of Eastern Nagaland.

The third was for 66 primary and graduate teachers’ posts under Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, to be earmarked for candidates from the six tribes of Eastern Nagaland.

The fourth was that 72 posts kept under doubtful category of teachers by school education numbering to be earmarked for Eastern Nagaland after a final decision of the state cabinet on this issue.

The fifth related to the state government’s assurance to carry out assessment across Eastern Nagaland. In the event of shortage of teachers, the government was to create all the required posts of teachers exclusively for Eastern Nagaland.

ENSF restated that almost all schools in Eastern Nagaland were functioning without sufficient teachers.

ENSF said that despite its efforts and appeal, not much has been initiated or resolved till now on account of “snail pace policy and attitude” of the government.