Issue of backdoor appointment

 With the fifth session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly underway, the issue of backdoor appointment has rung out loud after the Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town(NTUCT) in a statement, claimed that out of the total of 1200 candidates only 208 were recruited through the open recruitment. This means that the remaining 992 candidates got their appointment without passing the recruitment tests. This is a conjecture drawn from the NTUCT allegation unless it is confirmed. Totally,1200 of them are scheduled to undergo training at Police Training School (PTS) and Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre(NAPTC) . NTUCT has brought to public domain the highly questionable and illegal practise of ‘backdoor appointment’ . Such practises are clearly illegal and that has to be acknowledged and through which the government has contributed immensely to depriving thousand of unemployed youths the right of employment. This is among the main cause that has caused so much resentment and frustration within society. As the assembly is in session, certainly this public statement deserves to be discussed where the government and in particular, the police department has much to answer for. If what NTUCT has alleges is based on facts, even if the figure may not be wholly accurate; it raises an urgent and important issue. It also brings a recollection of the past, when a senior police officer had the guts to acknowledge the bane of the department caused by backdoor appointments. Interestingly, this happened when the same minister holding the same portfolio was also the then minister. Whether that acknowledgement was true or not, it certainly caused furore. Thus, the allegation by NTUCT could also be like a revisit of the phenomenon that has gripped almost all other government departments in the state. In other states, if there was any issue regarding backdoor appointment, there would have been massive protests riot throughout the state. The opposition would be calling for a statewide bandh or agitation and possibly, even compelling the government to ask the ministers in-charge to resign. It does not happen in Nagaland but that does not mean that people would continue to remain passive forever. Those organizations that have been crying hoarse over the plight of the unemployed as well as the system of selections, have not been consistently vocal about the backdoor appointment issue. Transparency and accountability in appointments to various government departments would satisfy people even though a fraction were to be selected and given jobs. Government cannot absorb even a fraction of around ten thousand youths graduating from various institutions. Today, hundreds of candidates compete for one post. To add to the problem, the state’s economy is on unsure ground- no industries and restricted opportunities for investments in private enterprises owing to the feeling of insecurity. Since private enterprise is the key, the quantum of jobs likely to be created within a time frame through some ventures, should be prepared. However, private enterprise can only thrive in a congenial environment and absence of which, has had a negative impact on the growth of the economy. Why backdoor appointments continue unabated is because people accept political patronisation, nepotism and favouritism. Unless the illegal practise of backdoor appointments are eradicated, there can never be social transformation.