Nagaland: Chang Wedoshi Setshang calls off indefinite stir after ‘written assurance’

DIMAPUR — Following a “written assurance” from Minister of Higher Education and Tourism, Temjen Imna Along, and the concerned authorities, the Chang Wedoshi Setshang (Chang Students’ Conference) has called off its indefinite agitation with effect from Saturday (October 21). 

It came three days after the student body temporarily suspended its call for closure of all government departmental offices in Tuensang district as part of its proposed 2nd phase of protest after the minister of Higher Education called for a consultative meeting on October 20 to discuss the matter.

However, it had stated that the Sao Chang College, Tuensang, which had been shut since October 12 in protest against the failure of the Higher Education department to address the issues faced by students of the institute, would remain closed until its charter of demands were fulfilled.

Now that the minister and the concerned authorities have given a written assurance on October 20 to fulfill its demands, the student body said in a press release that it has decided to call off the agitation.

The CWS stated that the assurances from the Higher Education minister include:

• Deployment of principal for Sao Chang College, Tuensang, being issued on October 20, 2023.
• To solve the issue regarding the shortage of college buses by the end of November 2023.
• To take up the demand for upgrading of science laboratory within this financial year (2023).
• Introduction of major subject in Science stream will be introduced by next academic year (2024).
• Shortage of teaching faculty in the departments of Political Science and English, and departments under Science stream will be addressed by posting teachers as and when the contract assistant professors are absorbed.

Meanwhile, the CWS expressed gratitude to minister Temjen Along; all the concerned authorities headed by commissioner and secretary, Higher and Technical Education; minister for Housing and Mechanical Engineering, P Bashangmongba Chang; Imtichoba Chang, MLA; Y Lima Onen Chang, MLA; district administration; SP Tuensang, and all the teaching and non-teaching faculties of Sao Chang College, as well as the students and all the stakeholders of Tuensang town.

It may be mentioned that the student body had demanded the concerned department to deploy a principal to Sao Chang College, address staffing shortage (teaching and non-teaching), allocate sufficient college bus immediately, and to upgrade the science laboratory.

Also read: Chang Wedoshi Setshang temporarily suspends protest; Sao Chang College to remain closed