Nagaland Congress demands requisition of Forest personnel

DIMAPUR — Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee Public Grievances Department (NPCC PGD) has demanded immediate requisition of 149 forest guards, 15 foresters-I, 1 ACF, 8 forest rangers and 21 deputy rangers for recruitment through proper channels.

The NPCC Grievances Department mentioned that forest guard is a Grade-III post with Grade pay of INR 2000, which has to be recruited through NSSB. It added that the 34 posts advertised for Kiphire and Longleng in 2017 and 115 forest guards in 2023 have to be conducted through NSSB for open recruitment.

As per an RTI report received in September 2023, the Public Grievances Department claimed that the number of vacancies of forest guards was 115, whereas the minister, in his statement, stated that there are 130 vacancies. Therefore, it reminded the department to stop manipulating the RTI.

It also stated that the RTI report did not show the report of five appointees in Forester-I. It added that 10 vacancies of Forster-I with grade pay of INR 2800 fall under the purview of NPSC.

The NPCC Public Grievances Department stated that it would not accept the Cabinet agenda no. 6 dated June 12, 2023, to keep in abeyance the advertised post of forest guards till a decision was taken by the Cabinet. It argued that Forester-I falls under NPSC with a grade pay of INR 2800 and forest guards under NSSB with a grade pay of INR 2000.

Therefore, the NPCC Public Grievances Department has demanded immediate requisition of 1 ACF, 8 forest rangers, 21 deputy rangers and all the posts mentioned to the concerned Commissions by this month and a copy to be given to NPCC, Public Grievances Department.

Meanwhile, the NPCC Public Grievances Department has strongly condemned the statement made by CL John, minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with regard to the human-elephant conflict in Wokha district.

“He being a senior politician, the minister should be more responsible in his statements, making fun of human lives and the losses occurred to farmers are not acceptable,” NPCC PGD said.

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