ASU not to allow CMCF interview

Displeased over non-inclusion of its representatives in the Selection Board of the Chief Ministers’ Corpus Fund for Kohima District, the Angami Students’ Union (ASU) has decided not to allow the selection interview to be conducted “under any circumstances” on November 25 until a proper agreement is reached at.
ASU in a joint press release issued by it joint secretary general, Zakie Khate and auditor general, Kusolie Yhokha said that the exclusion was in clear violation of the guidelines unlike in other Districts where every apex student bodies in all the districts were represented in the Board.
ASU said that the Board intentionally ignored the rights and concerns of its sincere appeal to have their representation in the Selection Board as per the guidelines of the CMCF.
The ASU expressed “alarm” over alleged political recommendations in the selection process while sidelining “deserving candidates” while noting that ‘significant stakeholders’ were not adequately represented in the selection board.
ASU also alleged that beneficiaries from other districts were chosen for the CM’s Corpus Fund for Kohma district, without proper verification or identity. ASU also demanded the selection board comprise of non-partisan body. Expressing grave concern over the selection process, ASU alleged the criteria were “favouritism and nepotism” through “high ranking officials” and powerful network within the selection board. It also expressed concern over misuse of CM’s Corpus Fund by some beneficiaries.
In the light of its allegations, the ASU urged all high ranking officers and political networks against issuing any recommendations and that a proper verification be made of beneficiaries to filter out those from other districts as was being done. ASU proposed to verify all projects and sanctioned amount in Kohima district.