NSF reiterates demand for viva-voce marks reduction in NSSB

The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Thursday reiterated its demand to the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) and state government to reduce the viva-voce marks from 12.5% to 5%.

This was informed through a press conference held at its office in Kohima after the federation submitted its demand in writing to the authority.

President of NSF, Kegwayhun Tep, said it pushed to have NSSB in the state to bring about transparency in the system of recruitment.

Although NSF does not undermine the credibility and integrity of the board members, he said the NSF ‘felt insecure when 12.5% of the total marks were allotted for viva-voce as well as personal efficiency test’.

“We want to ensure that complete transparency is maintained,” said the president.

The federation said Section 45 (10) of NSSB regulation 2022 have set a maximum threshold of not more than 12.5% but have not set the minimum marks to be allotted for personal interview. It stated that the board should ‘not have any issue in reducing the percentage of the marks’.

It maintained that from the initial stages of formulation of the NSSB regulation, the federation had objected to having viva-voce/ personal tests particularly in the recruitment process of grade-III but the government had insisted on testing the efficiency and computer testing skills.

The federation therefore demanded reduction of the marks to minimise the chance for manipulation by the board and to ensure that the principle of ‘right person for the right job’ is upheld.

Read: NSF commends staff recruitment examination

Bring preliminary marks in public domain

NSF went on to state that the NSSB declared the preliminary examination result on March 7, and the board informed that the marks secured by the candidates cannot be brought out in public domain until the completion of CPT/skill test. 

Noting that the examination was conducted in a free and fair manner, Tep said the board should not refuse to declare the marks secured by each candidate and demanded that the marks be made available in public domain as early as possible.

Until and unless the demand is met, the final results of the NSSB examination should not be declared, it warned, and further threatened to come out on the street or even boycott the viva-voce if its demand is not fulfilled.

“As far as our (NSF) demand is concerned, we are not demanding which cannot be fulfilled”, said Tep, adding that they have the support of all the aspirants numbering about 45,000 besides the federating units of NSF.

Appeals for introduction of cultural attire as uniform

The president also maintained during its last federal assembly, in order to protect the cultural identity of the Nagas, discussed the need to introduce uniforms in the form of the Naga cultural attire in all the educational institutions.

However, pointing out that most of the educational institutions have not complied with the request of the federation, they once again appealed to all institutions under Naga homeland to start introducing Naga attire either once a week or once a month.

‘This is being necessitated to protect the cultural identity in the fullest form,’ it asserted.

Further, congratulating the new government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, NSF exuded hope that ‘lots of development will take place’ and more focus will be given for the progress and growth of the Naga youths. Kohima, March 9 (EMN)