Cabinet accepts Governor’s invite

Correspondent KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 18 A marathon meeting of the Nagaland Cabinet today took some major decisions with regard to the Rules of Executive Business, ongoing agitations of Nagaland Secretariat Services Association (NSSA), Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF), Special Economic Development Zone (SEDZ).Sources said that the meeting held at the Chief Minster’s Office started at 2 pm and lasted for more than four hours, wherein the Cabinet accepted the invitation of the State Governor to have formal discussions before arriving at any conclusions on the Rules of Executive Business, specially with regard to transfer and postings. It may be recalled here that the Cabinet during its previous meeting had decided not to send files with regard to transfers and postings of the bureaucrats below the rank of Director General of Police and Chief Secretary to the Governor for approval. After which, the Government through the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department had held a consultative meeting with the Tribal Hohos and Civil societies in Kohima on November 6 last, wherein the participants had asserted support with the decision of the Cabinet. The discussion with the Governor is likely to be held within this week, sources said. AGITATIONS: Sources said that the Cabinet appreciates the demands of the NSSA asserted to sincerely and positively look into their demands while also requesting them (NSSA) to call off their proposed pen down strike scheduled to start tomorrow. It may be mentioned that the NSSA’s charter of demands include promotion orders of NSS cadre members with effect from May 30, 2013 as recommended by the departmental promotional committee on May 30; Deputation and absorption in the secretariat and implementation of rules of executive business as per cabinet decision date December 21, 2011 on the report and recommendation of committee of senior officers that include framing of modalities/guidelines to regulate the service conditions of non IAS/Central service employees on deputation and absorption in the secretariat, streamlining the administrative functioning in the state planning department/law department. Further, in addition, Nagaland Secretariat Service Association also demanded restoration of NSS cadre posts to P&AR department from home department (SAB) as per the chief secretary’s letter date July 30, 2008. On the other hand, the cabinet also discussed threadbare the demands of the ENSF in context with the Niathu Resort discussion. While the Government of Nagaland is sincerely concerned with the difficulties faced by the people of the four Eastern districts of the state, specially the students’ community, the Chief Minister expressed the willingness to meet the ENSF leaders anytime and discuss their demands. Nonetheless, the Cabinet has entrusted the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Organisation (ENLO) to have proper discussion with the ENSF leaders and resolve the matter. Some of the ENSF demands include conversion of one coy each of NAP into DEF, appointment and transfer of teachers, and serious implementation of the Mid-day Meal Scheme. Both the NSSA and ENSF are supposed to enter into further course of agitations from November 19. NSSA has threatened pen down strike as second phase while ENSF has called for 48-hours total bandh in the four eastern districts. However, leaders of both the organizations could not be contacted for their decisions after today’s Cabinet meeting. CONSEQUENT upon the meeting with senior bureaucrats headed by the Chief Secretary on November 15 and subsequent receipt of the meeting minutes vide government communication No. AR-6/4/78 dated 16/11/13, reassuring fulfillment of its charter of demands, the Empowered Action Committee of the Nagaland Secretariat Service Association (NSSA) at a meeting on Monday has decided to temporarily suspend the ongoing agitation till November 30. A release by NSSA president Imti Longchar and general secretary Johnny Humtsoe added that, if no positive action comes forth within this period, the association will launch its second phase agitation, they warned. The cabinet also decided to introduce Nagaland Air Service at the earliest in order to avoid inconveniences faced by the air-passengers in the state. Things are being worked out to introduce the service within this month. Sources said that initially two small aircrafts would be introduced in partnership with a private company to ferry passengers from Dimapur to Guwahati and Imphal. Subsequently, it would also be extended to the district headquarters within the state. Further, the Cabinet in principle approved the proposed Special Economic Development Zone along the foothill areas of the state.