Dimapur, July 28 : The local activist group Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has informed that the government has conceded to the demands of the group. Leaders of the NPRAAF informed on Thursday that they had met with the parliamentary secretary for Tourism, Apok C Jamir, in Kohima town on July 27. The meeting reportedly discussed the representation that was submitted by the NPRAAF seeking redress of various issues including anomalous appointments in the Tourism department, besides a demand to increase ‘sanctioned posts’ of tourist officers in the state.
According to a press release issued by the NPRAAF on Thursday, the two sides agreed on a memorandum of understanding as proposed by the forum following a series of meetings with various departmental officials including the department’s director KT Thomas and two assistant directors, V Doulo and I Temjen Ao, during various occasions.
The parliamentary secretary agreed to initiate ‘taking over of all tourism infrastructures already constructed but yet to be handed over to the department within 45 days.’
The NPRAAF stated that there were ‘many infrastructures lying unused owing to unknown reasons but still under the authority of certain individuals / landowners.’
They also agreed that from now on clearance and utilization certificates for ‘infrastructural development’ would be issued jointly by the engineering wing and a tourist officer in concern.
The press release stated further that the parliamentary secretary also ‘agreed that any deputation service sought by the department would be declared open for competition and be filled within one year from the date of utilizing that deputation service.’
Said policy seeks to provide opportunities for other ‘unemployed qualified youth’ to vie for government jobs.
Likewise, the government has ‘agreed to stop absorption policy except on extreme exigencies since such policy becomes a bane for educated unemployed youth as it denies them any available opportunity to compete for jobs.’
Further, the state has agreed to ‘completely stop absorption along with post’, in order to create job openings in the Tourism department.
Further, the parliamentary secretary agreed not to allow further privatization of tourist lodges in the state ‘as privatization was not contributing much to the treasury.’ In line with the department’s service rules for 12 sanctioned posts for tourist officers, the parliamentary secretary agreed to designate 12 ‘senior most’ tourist officers as district tourism officer ‘which can be arranged without financial implications,’ the group stated.
Concerning irregular appointments and promotion to the post of tourist officers, the department also offered clarifications to a number of cases, the forum stated. ‘As some cases remained unclear, the parliamentary secretary assured NPRAAF of looking into the matter for necessary action. Further, the parliamentary secretary assured that under his leadership, there shall be no backdoor appointments,’ the organization asserted in their press release.
The NPRAAF stated that it would ‘periodically monitor the commitment made by the parliamentary secretary in the interest of justice.’ The group has assured support and cooperation to the Tourism department in meeting stated objectives.
