NSSB viva issue: DNSU endorses NSF’s demand

April 17, 2023 37 Views No Comment

Dimapur, April 17 (MExN): The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) today endorsed the Naga Students’ Federation’s (NSF) recent ‘legitimate demand’ for the deduction of marks for viva-voce in the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB).

The NSF, on April 14, called for a boycott of the Personal Interviews of the NSSB’s Combined Staff Recruitment Exam (CSRE) 2022 and said that it would resort to other forms of democratic agitation until demand for reduction of the marks for viva-voce component from 12.5 % to 5% is met.

“The DNSU stands firm with the decision of the NSF for the interest of the students and youth community and shall extend our full cooperation in the event of the Federation resorting to any form of democratic agitation,” stated a press release from DNSU President, Moayanger Jamir and General Secretary, Sedelo T Vadeo

In this connection, the DNSU appealed to all the aspirants who have qualified for Viva-Voce to refrain from appearing for the interview until the NSF’s genuine demand by the concerned authorities is considered and upheld.

It must be noted here that the written exams for first CSRE under the NSSB were conducted across 111 centres in 13 District Headquarters across Nagaland on November 11, 2022. The technical exams were held the next day.

As per the Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department (P&AR) Nagaland, over 50,000 candidates appeared the exams and 1866 candidates were shortlisted for Computer Proficiency Test and other Skill Tests.

Currently, 1368 candidates are called for viva voce and the interviews are scheduled from April 18-28.

Meanwhile, the NSF maintained on April 14 that while it is not questioning the “sincerity and integrity of the board member,” the Federation’s demands are solely based on upholding the interest of the aspirants seeking for a free and fair recruitment process.

Despite legitimate demand by the Federation in the interest of the students and youth community which is yet unresolved, the NSSB on April 12 announced the schedule for the Personal Interview of the candidates qualified for CSRE 2022, it then stated.

Accordingly, the NSF asked all aspirants who have qualified for Viva-Voce to “abstain from reporting for the same.” It also appealed to the public, federating units and Sub-Ordinate Bodies of NSF to extend their co-operation in the event of the federation resorting to any form of democratic agitation.

In a rejoinder on April 15, the P&AR, however maintained that only “5% out of 12.5% is left for the Board in order to assess and award the marks for the personal interview.”

It further appealed for smooth conduct of interview process for recruitment under the NSSB.

Amogn others, it pointed out the State Government had set up the NSSB and notified the NSSB regulations on 20.07.2020 with due consultation with various stakeholders including the NSF and regulations are in the public domain since then.

The Government had framed the Regulations taking into account the practices of other Recruitment Boards and Agencies where many States in India have retained viva-voce and interviews as an integral requirement of the recruitment process, the P&AR noted.

The P&AR further stated that during discussions with the NSF, it was made clear that the Government is open to the idea of reviewing the NSSB’s regulations concerning the proportion of total marks to be allotted for written and interview exams, among others, before advertising the next cycle of recruitment.

“The NSSB is confident that the interview process will also be completed smoothly and transparently as per the regulations,” it added.