Non-implementation of reserved quota for backward tribes in Roads & Bridges department rocked the last day of the second session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) here on Thursday after R&B minister Tongpang Ozüküm mentioned about appointment of lower division assistants (LDAs) and sectional assistants (SAs) from March 1 till date, without fully implementing the reservation quota.
The minister stated this while replying to a starred question by opposition member Kuzholuzo Nienu.
He admitted that of 19 LDAs appointed, 12 LDAs hailed from Ao community, five from Angami and one each from Rengma and Sema communities.
Similarly, of the 42 SAs (mohurrers) appointed, 23 were from Ao community, seven from Angami, five from Sema, three from Konyak and each from Phom, Sangtam and Lotha communities.
The minister was then subjected to intense attack by senior opposition legislators for violating the office memorandum on ban of appointments of Grade IV staff. NPF member Azo remarked that PDA’s slogan “change is coming” was a farce as a leader ought to be for all Naga communities and not a particular tribe of constituency.
Azo took the opportunity to raise hackles by claiming that the denial of job opportunities to eastern Nagaland tribes had hardened the Eastern Naga People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) to reinforce its demand a separate State of Frontier Nagaland. He cautioned that if such trend continued, people of Eastern Nagaland would become slaves of advanced tribes.
Further, Azo alleged that the number of government employees belonging to tribes from Eastern Nagaland was less compared to the number of posts held by advanced tribes.
Another NPF member, Chotishu Sazo asked the minister reason for non-implementation of the reservation quota and demanded from leader of the House to protect the reservation policy. Joining the debate, EE Pangteang, also of the NPF, asked whether the government was aware that there was a reservation policy. He also questioned whether one Mowsumi Konyak appointed as executive engineer of PWD (H) Dimapur division was a genuine Konyak? Pangteang pointed out that there was no such name as ‘Mowsumi’ among Konyaks.
NPF member CL John asked the minister how a female mohurrer from Mokokchung could stay in Mon and supervise work.
NPF member Yitachu mentioned that people working on ground were SAs and not engineers, and therefore stressed that preference should be given to men. He commented that such ignorance was not expected from a former student leader.
Criticising the minister, NPF member Yollow Konyak asserted that Nagaland could not be ruled by three or four advanced tribes and demanded that all the appointments should be cancelled immediately.
NPF members BS Nanglang and Mithungnyuba Sangtam too joined in demanding immediate termination of the appointments under PWD and sought reply from leader of the House in this regard.
In his response, Ozüküm admitted that 37% reservation for backward tribes was not maintained and said the department was reviewing the matter and other service rules. He said appointments were made on emergency basis and could be terminated but assured the legislators that appointments in district headquarters would be as per the reservation policy.
The minister, a first timer in assembly, could not offer further clarifications to intense queries from opposition members.
At this, leader of opposition TR Zeliang remarked that the minister could not mislead people or the NLA as it would be breach of privilege and asked how Ozüküm could take a year to implement the policy.
Opposition leader T.R. Zeliang who reacted to the stoic silence of the minister reminded him that he was answerable to the people and not only elected members.
Coming to the rescue of the minister, leader of the house Neiphiu Rio reiterated the standing order that vacancies for lower grades in district headquarters would be filled up by indigenous inhabitants. He assured the house that his government would stand by the reservation policy and also assured members that lapses in R&B department would be looked into.
Appointment of Lok Ayukta: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday informed the Assembly that the search committee after a meeting held on August 30, 2018 decided to write to the Registrar of Gauhati High Court to suggest names and for further discussion with the Chief Justice of High Court, Speaker and the Leader of Opposition as per the provision of the Act.
Replying to a starred question, raised by opposition MLA, Yitachu on the follow-up actions taken after Nagaland Lokayukta Act was passed in the assembly in 2017, Rio said P&AR department had written to the Registrar general, Gauhati High Court on August 6, 2018 and also to the Advocate General, Nagaland, on August 30, 2018.
In this regard, Rio said response from the registrar was still awaited.
It may be recalled that the P&AR department had constituted the Search Committee for appointment of Lokayukta panel vide OM. dated July 11, 2018.
Govt seeking views for citizenship bill: Leader of the house and chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the draft Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2016 as sent by Central government was discussed by the cabinet during its recent meeting and has sought the views of the Advocate General, Nagaland.
Rio was responding to a starred question, raised by opposition MLA, Chotisuh Sazo on why the CAB 2016 was not tabled in the assembly.
Sazo also asked Rio as to what prompted him (Rio) to make a statement in Delhi that the integration of Naga inhabited areas was not possible and whether Rio had denounced the integration of all Naga inhabited areas.
Rio said that the matter was already clarified. Rio said he had relayed to the media what was discussed in a meeting of State delegation with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Rio asserted that since it was not his view, the question of denouncing that integration of all Naga inhabited areas does not arise.
Speaker rejects demand for discussion during zero-hr: Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) speaker Vikho-ü Yhoshü rejected the demand for discussion during Zero Hour from the opposition on the second day of the two-day Assembly session that concluded here on Thursday. He explained that only ten minutes was available since the house began ten minutes late.
Opposition legislator EE Pangteang had sought an assurance from the home minister on completion of construction of the police station building in Anjangyang and in his supplementary question demanding to know when it would be made functional.
As deputy chief minister Y Patton, in charge of home department, stood to respond, the speaker adjourned the House for a short break which prompted opposition TR Zeliang to demand Zero Hour discussion. To this, Yhoshü asked him submit a “separate notice”.
Zeliang replied that Zero Hour was vital and could be taken up based on any emergency in public interest. He asked the speaker to read out the rules about separate notice for Zero Hour discussion.
Yhoshü admitted that there was were no rules as such, but added that Zero Hour discussion for more than half-an-hour required notice and that it should be during subsequent discussion.
When the opposition members wanted to continue with the discussion after Speaker extended the session by 10 minutes, leader of the House and chief minister Neiphiu Rio commented that 10 minutes was over. However, the speaker, said there were still two minutes left and asked the opposition to avail.
Meanwhile, on the starred question by Pangteang on establishment of police station at Anjangyang and other details, Patton replied that the police station was established on July 15, 2013 and its sanctioned manpower was 47.
Stating that currently the police station was non-functional as construction work was not complete, Patton added that it was expected to be completed by end of this year.