KOHIMA, MARCH 9: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today reiterated its demand for reduction of viva-voce component in the recruitment of Grade-III Government employees to 5% from 12.5% lest it would not allow declaration of the final result and also take the issue to the streets.
Addressing a press conference at its office in Naga Club Building, NSF president Kegwayhun Tep lamented that while their demand for reduction of the viva-voce component has not been accepted till date, the NSSB on March 7 declared the result for written examination conducted last year.
He said that NSSB was constituted to bring about transparency in recruitment of Grade-III posts without any manipulation but the students community and aspirants feel insecure because 12.5% of the total marks has been earmarked for viva-voce.
In this, the NSF reiterated that until and unless it is reduced to 5% and that they will ensure that the final result of NSSB should not be brought out.
Tep informed that the NSF yesterday wrote a reminder letter to the State Chief Secretary objecting the viva-voce component in the NSSB saying that reducing it to 5% “will minimize the chance for manipulation by the Board and ensure that the principle of ‘Right Person for the Right Job’ will be upheld.”
“Despite the long-standing demand of the youth and students’ community for reduction of the viva-voce marks, the Board disregarding the same announced the list of shortlisted candidates for Computer Proficiency Test for Group II post and skill Test for Group IV posts under Combined Staff Recruitment Examinations 2022. This has given rise to doubts as to whether the Board will do justice to those truly deserving aspirants”, NSF told the Chief Secretary in its letter submitted yesterday.
NSF general secretary Supuni Ng. Philo said the justification given by the NSSB that the 12.5% marks allocation for viva-voce component cannot be rolled-back due to the provisions contained in the Nagaland Staff Selection Board regulations, 2022 is misleading as plain reading of Section 45 (10), deals only with the maximum limit of marks that can be allotted for personal interview.
“There is absolutely no mention of the minimum threshold anywhere in the regulation”, he said while demanding its roll back.
Asked on the stand if it is not reduced, Tep said that “NSF is very positive it will be done as in all the election campaigns the ruling parties has been saying that the NSSB was established because of the NSF demand for transparency and fairness in the system of governance”.
Asserting that NSF will ensure that final result is not declared, he said the Federation has the support of all the federating units, thousands of aspirants and also the candidates who have sat for the first exam to take the issue to the streets.
“We have been demanding that there is no need for viva-voce or personal test but considering the potentiality and capability of any individual can be determined through the written exams”, he said.
Further, Tep said that the Federation has also requested the NSSB to put the marks of the written Combined Staff Recruitment Examination 2022 conducted on November 11 and 12, 2022 be published in public domain before the commencement of Computer or Skill test to ensure transparency and fairness in the process of selection.
Also, congratulating Neiphiu Rio-led Government for retaining power in the just concluded State Assembly election, the NSF expressed hope that the newly formed Government will be focused on the development and progress of Naga youth.
Use cultural dress in educational institutions
Meanwhile, with a view to protect and preserve the Naga traditional attires, the NSF has requested the School Education Department to make it mandatory for all the educational institutions both Government and private, to wear cultural dress at least once a month to start with.
“NSF is here to protect the cultural identity of the Nagas and while visiting institutions outside the State, it is found that they use their own cultural attire in the institutes…Nagas have rich cultural attire but we are failing to protect and if it is introduced this will be a step forward in protecting the rich cultural attire of the Nagas”, said Tep.
NSF secretary education Medovi Rhi and Secretary Games & Sports Kaisu Chakre were also present during the press briefing.
(Page News Service)
