DIMAPUR, May 16 � Accusing the Nagaland Government of sleeping over the problems plaguing the State�s Education department, particularly the bogus/excess appointments issue, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Tokheho Yepthomi, along with party MLAs, on Thursday met the Governor at Dimapur Airport and submitted a memorandum demanding a �logical investigation� into the matter.
Briefing mediapersons later, Tokheho said the Governor has been apprised of the situation in the Education department while stating that had the government been sincere, it would have taken appropriate and preventive steps based on the SIT report instead of setting up another committee.
Accusing the government of sleeping over the issue, the opposition MLAs said many students enrolled in government schools are suffering due to absence of teachers. The careers of students enrolled in government schools have been massacred by the DAN Government, they charged.
The CLP leader also questioned the government�s failure to react over the findings of the SIT report which has indicated involvement of high government officials in the appointment of bogus teachers.
MLA Joshua Sumi reminded of the recent Education Act passed by the Parliament which gives the �right to education� to every child. It is an Act amended by the Government of India and should be implemented across the length and breadth of the country, he said.
The memorandum submitted to the Governor, which was made available to the media, stated that the SIT report has clearly pointed out teachers posts are being seen more as a commodity and all teachers who have been rendered bogus have paid a price for gainful employment. The government has only victimised the victims further whose only fault was buying a post on sale, it said.
The memorandum further pointed out that, besides identification of bogus teachers, there was need to identify the main culprits behind the appointments, while stating that instituting committee after committee for the investigation was irrelevant. It also did not rule out involvement of the Treasury department stating that this is �obvious as salaries against these appointments are released although budgetary allocation is exceeded�.
Stating that the SIT report has made it clear that there is complete breakdown of governing and administrative mechanism in the department, the CLP has demanded thorough investigation in various schemes including the Mid-Day Meal and SSA programmes.
The CLP has emphasised on �logical investigation� of high government functionaries involved, those responsible for such appointments, how many such appointments have been done with government approval, appointments done with authentic signatures, those done with forged signatures and those responsible for destroying the important government documents.
The Governor, who was en route to New Delhi, has assured to look into the issue once he gets back, the CLP leader informed.
