NPRAAF extends deadline served to Tourism Dept to July 20

Dimapur, June 27 : A day ahead of the deadline – June 25 issued by Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) to the Department of Tourism, Nagaland to cancel all backdoor appointments and rectify other anomalies, the two parties met at the Tourist Lodge Dimapur to discuss the issue.

According to a statement issued by Information & Publicity Cell NPRAAF, Assistant Director, Tourism, I. Temjen Ao represented the department while a host of NPRAAF office bearers were in attendance.

During the meeting, the Department of Tourism agreed in principle to post separate Tourist Officer (TO) at Kiphire, which was one of the core demands of NPRAAF. In this regard, the Director in-charge, Tourism Department, K.T. Thomas gave in written to NPRAAF stating, “The directorate will take into account for necessary action with the Administrative Head.” NPRAAF pointed out that Kiphire is the only district in Nagaland that does not have Tourism Office.
Meanwhile, the NPRAAF had also put forth fresh suggestion for increasing the number of 12 sanctioned posts of TOs to at least 27 recognizing the need for more TOs both within and outside the state especially where Nagaland Houses are established. The department welcomed and appreciated the suggestion and agreed to seriously take up the matter with higher authority. The department also agreed that there was a need for more TOs.

Having suggested the point, the department was made to understand that the NPRAAF was uncompromising in its demand for cancellation of backdoor appointments of Tourist Officers which led to excess officers.

“Our demand for increasing the sanctioned posts of Tourist Officers should not be confused as contradictory with the demand for cancelling appointment of excess officers which were made through backdoor. Whether there is excess or permissible number of officers, as long as the appointment is backdoor, NPRAAF will continue to oppose such appointments,” the statement said.

NPRRAF suggested the department that “when there is a need for more TOs, then the Service Rules will first have to be amended to increase the sanctioned posts rather than first appointing officers thus leading to excess officers crossing the number of sanctioned posts in clear violation of Service Rules.”

During the meeting, the department clarified the cases of appointments of few officers which NPRAAF described it as backdoor in its ultimatum. As the clarification was made satisfactory and substantiated with documentary evidence, NPRAAF dropped the demand for cancellation of such appointments.

However, NPRAAF said, there are several other anomalous and irregular appointments which are yet to be discussed and for which the department has sought more time to look into the issues.

“Seeing the positive response of the department and in fulfilling some demands and suggestions put forth, the NPRAAF has decided to extend the deadline to the department for 25 days to be expired on July 20, 2016.”

NPRAAF appreciated the positive steps taken by the department to rectify irregularities in the department and hoped for more positive outcome in the next meeting.

It may be mentioned that the first meeting between the two parties was held on June 21 at the Directorate of Tourism, Kohima where Assistant Director, Veyielo Doulo represented the department. The meeting concluded on a positive note and the second meeting on June 24 was a follow up of the first meeting.