Nagaland Directorate Ministerial Service Association celebrates golden jubilee

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Directorate Ministerial Service Association (NDMSA) celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima, on November 18 on the theme “Serve and progress” with S Supongmeren Jamir, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, as the special guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Jamir, emphasising his association with the NDMSA for 40 years, said he has witnessed the achievements of the NDMSA, their contribution and sincere services for the people during the last 50 years, according to a DIPR report.

Acknowledging their services, Jamir urged them to serve the people with humanity and never to go against or succumb to the laid-down rules, which is the foundation of good governance, and reminded them that good governance starts from their table.

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He pointed out that the directorate employees are the backbones of the state government, who are responsible for making the policies of the stakeholder and the rules of the departments and for giving the feeding of the office procedure to the secretary and administrator. He therefore called upon the NDMSA to serve the people with commitment, determination, and new dimensions to carry our state forward.

Supongmeren also released the NDMSA jubilee souvenir and virtually unveiled the golden jubilee monolith of the association during the celebration.

NDMSA President T Bendangsenla, in her presidential address, highlighted that NDMSA is one of the oldest and the first state-registered associations to be officially recognised by the government of Nagaland, notified on July 30, 1975 when there were only 32 directorates. Today it consists of 57 directorates with an approximate sanctioned strength of 1500 with its headquarters at Kohima and a unit at Dimapur, she said.

She also shared some significant challenges the association has faced, such as the ‘no-work, no-pay’ policy which the state government imposed in 1994 and the implementation of the Nagaland Mass Retirement Act 2007 leading many premature retirements.

She also highlighted the demands of the association that was granted by the state government, like the upgrading of the post of Office Superintendent, the creation of the post of Registrar in all directorates, the amendment of the NPMSA Service Rules 2006, the implementation of the High Power Committee and Cadre Review Committee recommendation, the adoption of the NDMSA Constitution 2016, the creation of the post of Administrative Officer and the reduction of the line of service for promotion, and also announced a plot of land being allotted for construction of the NDMSA building.

Medoselhou Keretsu, a founding member of NDMSA while recalling the past in the last 50 years, congratulated all the members of the association and the leaders for having achieved this significant milestone. He recalled that the NDMSA started with a vision of some insightful pioneers and leaders who understood the need for an association to work for the welfare of the common employees, as there was no formal coordination amongst the 32 directorates back then.

To mark the occasion, special songs were also presented by Chakhesang Baptist Church Ministers’ Hill Kohima, Keziah Semy and Aosunep Jamir. A one-minute silence was also observed in remembrance of the founding members of NDMSA.