ENSF serves ultimatum to Nagaland government over reservation policy

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 3 (EMN): The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has served a 13-day ultimatum to the government of Nagaland through a memorandum, demanding “prompt action” on implementation of 25% job reservation for six backward tribes under Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).

The ENSF informed this at a press conference held in Kohima on Monday.

It warned that it would take up any form of democratic “indefinite” step if the government fails to address its “legitimate” demand within 13 days with effect from May 3, 2021, and that the government would be held solely responsible for any untoward incident.

The federation will be compelled to demand prosecution of the concerned officers and commission who have systematically manipulated the 25% job reservation, it warned.

President of ENSF, Sepili L Sangtam, said that the federation decided to serve the ultimatum to the chief minister of the state, Neiphiu Rio, after having an emergency meeting with its six federating units.

It has been five months and 18 days since the state government failed to fulfil our “genuine” demands over the issue, stated Sangtam.

He informed that its plan to protest against the government was temporarily suspended in December last year and extended the time frame to January 10 this year. However, the state government told the federation that a meeting with the cabinet sub-committee would be held any time soon, he added.

On January 14 this year, the cabinet sub-committee was directed to submit its report in three months’ time. Despite the maturity of the deadline on April 14, no intimidation has been made by the state government, he claimed.

The 25% job reservation for six backward tribes — Sangtam, Konyak, Yimchunger, Khiamniungam, Phom and Chang — was notified in 2008 and the implementation began in 2009, he stated.

The ENSF president went on to state that after examining all records of Personnel and Administrative Reforms department, relevant notifications by the NSPC, and through an RTI reply received from the commission, “major anomalies” in the implementation of the 25% quota from 2009 till date were found.

The federation never expected the Commission to “manipulate” the earmarked quota meant for the six backward tribes, he said, adding that the commission must clarify on why the eastern Naga backward tribes were deprived of the earmarked policy.

The state government must compensate. ENSF is not asking for something beyond the 25% reservation meant for the six tribes, Sangtam added.

ENSF General Secretary, Imtichoba Chang also said that a meeting was held with the cabinet sub-committee on April 9 where the NPSC “clearly accepted” that the reservation that are meant for the six tribes “needs to be compensated”.

Meanwhile, the federation informed that it had a “healthy discussion” with the chief minister on Monday during the submission of its memorandum.

The CM was said to have assured the federation to look into the matter and agreed that if anomalies are found in the implementation of the reservations, the NPSC should correct it.