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Dimapur, May 28 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front Legislature Party (NPFLP) has questioned the rationale regarding constitution of an advisory panel of experts to ‘make expert opinion’ to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and State Executive Committee (SEC).
NPFLP spokesman Imkong L Imchen has stated this in responds to what he termed as ‘half-cropped notification concealing the items of reference’ was tweeted by the government spokesperson and advisor to the government of Nagaland after a news report in the local daily citing the need for a panel of experts to be in the High Powered Committee (HPC).
According to Imchen, the HPC was constituted vide Home department notification dated June 1, 2020 consisting of 6 members out of which 5 are legislators including the chief minister as chairman and the deputy CM as co-chairman. The chief secretary is the member secretary, who also holds the posts of ex-officio CEO of the SDMA and chairperson of the SEC under the NSDMA. The HPC is assisted by a number of officials pooled from different government departments. The decision to constitute the HPC was taken by the cabinet to decide on policy matters relating Covid-19 including supervision of the state war room.
Imchen has questioned the reason for constituting an advisory panel of three experts. He demanded to know it there was any advertisement floated and candidate shortlisted? What were the criteria for selection? Were there any specific qualification requirements? And what process was followed for selection of the experts?
As point no. 1 of the terms of the said notification stated that the services of the advisory panel of experts would be utilised by the SDMA/SEC for a period of one year through virtual consultation or any other means of communication, Imchen asked how would it benefit the healthcare workers (HCW) and frontline workers (FLW) working at the ground level. He also questioned if those experts have any idea about the ground reality of the state or it they are well versed in the demographic, socio-economic, patient demographic aspects of the state.
He asked the state government whose view to choose if there are divergent and differing opinions among those three experts.
Imchen has also queried on the terms pertaining to remuneration/ payment for the services of those experts. He has referred to the finance department on May 6, 2021, which has already notified pro-rata cuts of 20% on various items under non-development from the Budget Estimates 2021-22 in respect of travel expenses, office expenses, motor vehicles and maintenance. He has also referred to the chief minister in his letter to the Confederation of Indian Industries dated April 28, 2021, seeking for donations citing that the state’s finances were already stretched.
“Therefore, how much fund has the state government spent till date and for what purpose? Which are the areas it has been allotted and how much has been utilised from out of the pro-rata cut of 20% and what is the urgent necessity of the so-called expert panel only to be added to the finance burden of the state?” Imchen asked.
In light of the above stated circumstance, Imchen has questioned the state government and the chief minister on the logic of appointing a new panel of experts despite those officials who have already been appointed/ designated to various committees and groups at the state level and in line with the government of India’s group.
He asked if the newly appointed experts would formulate any new strategies and approaches other than that which the ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other official authorities such as the ICMR, NEGVAC and the Empowered Groups are formulating.
“If this move was taken with good intention to help the state in its fight against Covid-19 and through proper procedures, then why was this kept secret from the public when most likely public funds will be used to pay for these services,” Imchen questioned.
Imchen has also termed that the government’s spokesperson’s tweet as misleading as he claimed that the HPC is advised by the experts panel. Imchen claimed that upon scrutinisation of the ‘half-cropped available notification,’ it was found that the panel has been constituted to ‘make expert opinion on various aspect of emergency response of Covid-19 to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and State Executive Committee (SEC) Nagaland. He added that there was absolutely no mention whatsoever of advising the HPC.
Imchen was of the opinion that the constitution of an advisory panel of experts was unnecessary, clandestine and perhaps dubious in procedure. He, therefore, asked the state government to come clean on this without delay in the interest of the public.