Kohima: The Angami Students’ Union (ASU) on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to reinstating the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of Kohima district. The ASU threatened to intensify its protest against the appointment of non-indigenous inhabitants of the Kohima district to grade-IV positions in various district offices of the government department.
Addressing a press conference, ASU president Khriesamhalie David Mere expressed disappointment over the Health & Family Welfare Department’s recruitment of six individuals for these reserved posts at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima. He stated that the ASU would leave no stone unturned until the rights of the indigenous inhabitants are reinstated.
Eartlier this year, the ASU picketed the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) in Kohima, in protest against the deprivation of the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the district.
ASU general secretary Vimeyiekho Vitso informed that ASU officials met with Health & Family Welfare officers on Thursday and submitted a letter seeking the advertisement of the six posts occupied by non-indigenous inhabitants at the district hospital.
He mentioned that the department verbally assured the ASU that these posts would be reinstated to the indigenous inhabitants of the district. Vitso pointed out that these appointments violated the government office memorandum (OM) dated October 26, 2017.
The OM stated that “all direct recruitment vacancies in Grade-III and Grade-IV posts in District offices of the departments shall be filled up by the indigenous inhabitants of the respective districts.”
While health officials informed the student body that the six irregular appointees would be relocated to their parent district, Vitso noted that such an act would also deprive the indigenous inhabitants of that district of their rights.
ASU vice president Thomas Khawakhrie informed that the ASU had filed an RTI with the Personnel and Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department seeking information on the appointment of non-indigenous inhabitants against reserved posts in district offices of various government departments. He mentioned that some departments were unwilling to provide information.
Adding to this, Vitso informed that the P&AR transferred the RTI to the respective district offices. Among the seven to eight departments that responded, it was revealed that 16 appointments had been made against the government OM in some government departments. He emphasised that posts meant for indigenous inhabitants should rightfully be given to them and appealed to government officials to be vigilant against such appointments.
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He also informed that the ASU, if necessary, would approach the appellate authority to obtain the information sought as per the RTI Act, with plans to also approach the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) or take legal action if needed.
Asked why the ASU is taking particular interest in the Health & Family Welfare Department, Vitso explained that formal complaints had been received from aggrieved residents about irregularities in the department. He said the student body is committed to finding information on irregularities in other government district offices to ensure that the rights of the indigenous inhabitants are protected.
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