‘Nagaland has India’s highest population-to-govt. workers ratio’

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 24 (EMN): Nagaland state has the highest ratio of government employees in the country. The high cost of paying for employees’ salaries and pensions is “limiting” the state’s funds. This needs to be addressed, according to an advisor to the government.

“Nagaland has the highest ratio of government employees per population in the country,” said the advisor for Science & Technology Mmhonlümo Kikon during an event in Kohma. He was addressing the second biennial conference and annual general meeting of the Nagaland Directorate Ministerial Service Association (NDMSA), on November 23 in Kohima.

This high cost of servicing salaries and pensions in Nagaland, he said, is “limiting our funds for development,” an issue that needs to be addressed. Nagaland is a small state with complex problems of governance and politics, he added.

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey of 2017-18, Nagaland has the highest unemployment rate at 21.4 % while Meghalaya ranks among the least at 1.5%.

Saying there is a huge difference between government and private sectors, he urged people not to generalise them all the time.

“Government is seized of the matter—complex problems need special attention. And since this issue is going to impact the future of the state government and its citizens, we need to be very clear,” Kikon said.

The Pay Anomalies Committee recommended upgrading pay levels in respect of certain categories of employees. It was examined but was not accepted on account of several reasons, he said. The reasons were that no anomalies were created by the Revision of Pension rules of 2017, and granting an upgrade as was recommended would result in similar demands from similarly placed employees.

The advisor added that many states in the country have not implemented the 7th Revision of Pay, while some have not even implemented the 6th ROP. Empathy for the public is necessary for the members of the association, he added.

To the directorate and the district ministerial government servants, he said they are important to the state government.

‘No policy implementation will be successful without your involvement,’ he said, adding that due credit must be given.

Kikon spoke also about development and governance which he said are a priority for the People’s Democratic Alliance government. To achieve those goals, there are unique challenges, he said.

‘Rights come with duties and responsibilities. It cannot be taken in isolation and it has to be viewed holistically. Dialogue is the way forward especially since we are all part of the same family,’ he said.