DIET relocation: CWS to continue agitation till demands are met

‘Total bandh’ in Tuensang district today

Morung Express News
Tuensang | June 21

The Chang Wedoshi Setshang (Chang Students’ Conference) on Monday intensified its agitation pertaining to the relocation of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) in Tuensang district.

Kicking off its third phase of indefinite agitation, the apex body of Chang students held a programme at Clock Tower, Tuensang town, during which CWS President C Pongsu read out the chronology of events leading up to the protest.

He said that the issue of relocating the DIET dated back to 2013 when a site measuring 4960 square metres located below the ITI in Tuensang town was ‘selected by the Department.’ However, as the Ministry had approved an area of 5-6 acres, the Confederation of Chang Students’ Union (CCSU) intervened and submitted representations to the Director, SCERT Nagaland; opposing relocation of the Institute to the proposed site.

In the meantime, two other sites were also proposed but on November 2014, the SCERT visited Tuensang and found that all three sites were not ideal for the proposed relocation, according to the CWS President.

Following this, the CWS stated that “the landowners submitted an offer to the department with a request for allotment of construction work and few grade 4 posts.” However, while the department was in the process of negotiating with the landowners, “two work orders were issued by the office of the Chief Engineer PWD (W&H) to two parties on March 27, 2015, ignoring the landowners’ demand and without consulting the SCERT,” it maintained. This, it said, led to the landowners withdrawing their offer as none of their demands were considered.

The matter was further drawn out in 2015 as the SCERT reportedly sought help from the Tuensang Deputy Commissioner to acquire some quarters belonging to the Medical Department that were located near the present DIET premises. However, the arrangement did not work out, and the CCSU, “after seeing all the delay tactics and excuses of the Department and the Government,” began its first phase of agitation by calling a bandh in Tuensang town on August 28, 2015.

A joint meeting between the Tuensang DC, CCSU and the Principal of DIET Tuensang was also held where it was decided that “as per the directive from Department, the new site for relocation of DET Tuensang will be finalised jointly,” and the CCSU based on the agreement, declared partial relaxation of its agitation on August 31, 2015.

As a result, on January 22, 2016, administrative approval for acquisition of a site measuring 5.7 acres at Sangkong, Tuensang village was finally received and another order was issued in May 2016, directing the district administration to acquire the land through the District Land Acquisition Committee and hand it over to the Department for relocation of the Institute at the earliest.

As per the CWS, throughout the year 2017, various formalities including submission of approved land and map, issue of No Objection Certificate and finalisation of the rate at which the land would be purchased was done and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) was signed on June 27, 2017.

But the issue dragged on as various disagreements arose, leading to the parties signing three more MoUs, the latest of which was signed on March 16, 2022.

In this connection, the CWS maintained that the government delayed in purchasing the land even after doing all the necessities and the requirements were done. As such, the CWS gave a 15-day ultimatum to the Government through the Nagaland Commissioner, on May 12 this year.

“After waiting for 30 days, the CWS locked down the DIET institution, Tuensang and declared its 1st phase of agitation on June 13,” and the government’s failure to respond led to the 2nd phase of agitation on June 15 wherein the CWS locked down all the government offices in Tuensang.

The CWS President said that on June 15, the Tuensang DC, as directed by the Commissioner, responded to the CWS stating that “the government is actively pursuing the matter and awaiting SLAA approval on the said matter.”

But the CWS “turned down the assurance” stating that it sought for “fulfilment of required payment for the proposed site.”

It had also informed that the agitation would continue till the demand is met. Simultaneously, the student body had also appealed for the immediate intervention of the Chang elected members (Members of Legislative Assembly) before June 19.

With no response as on June 19, the 3rd phase of agitation began on Monday, the CWS maintained.

During the programme at the Clock Tower, Tuensang, various leaders including the President of the Chang Khulei Setshang; Vice President of Changsao Thangjam Setshang; and Chairperson of Chongpo Khel, Tuensang Village addressed the gathering.

This was followed by ‘silent protest’ to the residences of the three MLAs, Toyang Chang, Kejong Chang and H Chuba Chang in Noksen Town, and complete shutdown of business establishments from 1:00 pm onwards.

On the second day, June 21, there will be total bandh within the district from 8:00 am, the CWS informed.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/diet-relocation-cws-to-continue-agitation-till-demands-are-met