Ravi wants database of state employees’ relatives in UG organisations, says government

Dimapur, July 22 (EMN): The government of Nagaland has broken its silence on the recent controversial order wherein state government employees were asked to furnish information regarding their family members and relatives in Naga political organisations, saying that Governor RN Ravi had asked for it.

The government said this in an update issued by the DIPR on Wednesday. It added that the clarification was made in the interest of maintaining transparency.

According to the update, the governor’s office had written a letter to the chief secretary on February 14 this year, mentioning about the “governor’s desire to have a database of state government employees’ family members and relatives in underground organisations”.

“The letter required every government employee to make a self declaration in a format which was enclosed along with the letters. The letter desired members of the Police Department to be segregated and furnished separately. The letter further directed the Home Commissioner to keep hard copies of the declaration and a soft copy to be sent to the Governor’s Office by 2nd April, 2020,” the press release read.

It went on to say that the chief secretary’s office received a reminder letter on the matter from the governor’s office on June 24, 2020.

“The decision of the government to issue the office memorandum dated 7th July, 2020 was made on the direction of the honourable Governor which was deliberated by the state Cabinet in its meeting held on 3rd July, 2020,” the update added.