NSF also appealed to the general public, federating units and sub-ordinate bodies of the federation to extend their fullest cooperation in the event of the NSF resorting to any form democratic agitation.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Friday reminded the Nagaland state government its earlier demands for the reduction of viva-voce component in the ensuing Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) examination.
In a letter addressed to Nagaland Chief Secretary, jointly issued by NSF president, Kegwayhun Tep, and secretary education, Medovi Rhi, the student body recalled an official communique to the chief secretary, Nagaland, vide reference No.NSF/ULT/2021-23 Dated Kohima, the 16th of November 2022. It had demanded for reduction of the marks for viva-voce component in the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) from the proposed 12.5% to 5% of the total marks.
The same was reiterated through a reminder vide reference No. NSF/ REP-37/2021-23 Dated 8 March 2023.
The NSF said it was firm on its stand that the justification given by the board thar the allocation of 12.5% of the total marks cannot be rolled due to the provision enshrined in the NSSB regulation 2022 was misleading as “plain reading” of Section 45 (10) only deals with maximum limit of marks that can be allocated in personal and regulation absolutely does not make any mention of the minimum threshold.
Despite to the legitimate demand by the Federation in the interest of the students and youth community which is yet unresolved, the NSF said that the NSSB vide reference No.NSSB/EXAM-4/14/2022/355 Dated Kohima, the 12th of April, 2023, announced the schedule for the personal interview of the candidates qualified for Combined Staff Recruitment Examination 2022.
NSF also added that consequent to this “unfavourable development”, it was compelled to take forth the resolution adopted at its 4th Presidential Council Meeting wherein it resolved that the Federation shall resort to democratic forms of agitation and also boycott the personal interview of the combined staff recruitment examination 2022 to be conducted by the NSSB if the demand for the viva-voce component in all categories is not reduced to 5% of the total marks as against the proposed 12.5%.
For this, NSF would be boycotting the personal interview of the combined staff recruitment examination 2022 scheduled for April 17 and 18 and also resort to other forms of democratic agitation until this genuine demand of the students and youth community is addressed by the authorities concerned.
In the light of this , the NSF has requested all the aspirants who have qualified for viva-voce to abstain from reporting for the same.
It also appealed to the general public, federating units and sub-ordinate bodies of the federation to extend their fullest cooperation in the event of the NSF resorting to any form democratic agitation.
The NSF further went on to put on record that the sincerity and integrity of the board members was in no way being questioned through this demand and that the demand was solely to uphold the interest of the aspirants seeking for “free and fair” recruitment process.