Konyak Union against setting up of Nagaland State Selection Board

Dimapur, June 22 (EMN): Just a few days after the state government announced that the proposed Nagaland State Selection Board (NSSB) would be approved within a month, the Konyak Union (KU) has reiterated its stand against the move, saying it remains firm on its “earlier resolution” made in February this year.

The union had in February raised concerns over the Naga Students’ Federation’s (NSF) ultimatum on setting up of NSSB, stating that “Nagaland is yet to be ripen for NSSB”. The NSF later clarified that the move was to curb rampant backdoor appointment and that “SSB will not affect the reservation for backward quota including the reservation for persons with disabilities”.

While acknowledging the government in taking up various reformative steps, the Konyak Union and all its frontal organisations vehemently demands for “social and economic justice and equality” in regard to government employment sector, stated a press release issued by KU media cell on Monday.

“The Konyak Union with strong aspirations and solidarity along with ENPO and ENSF appeals that any reforms by the state government should be with the consultation and endorsement of every stakeholders of our Naga society to understand the pleas of those deprived section or tribe in the State,” the press release stated.

“The Konyak Naga tribe is one of the most populace tribes in the state however; its tribal representation in the state employment sector is very marginal or negligible,” it reiterated the statement made earlier.

The union claimed that “the present roster system of recruitment under NPSC and allied departments also lacks consistency and uniformity; unequal distribution among the tribes has resulted in regular issues of contention every year”. It added that no concrete measure has been taken in this regard so far despite voicing out the issue.

“Considering the enormous plight and sufferings of the educated unemployed youths and with an uncertain future, the Union appeal before the Nagaland government that, any rectifications under the present system should be as per the population ratio of the particular tribe or community,” the press release read.

“Therefore, the Union shall stand against the current concept of NSSB in the general interest of the unemployed youths of the Konyak community,” it added.