Western Sumi Students’ Union Joins CTAN, NNQF in Nagaland’s Fight Against Backdoor Appointments

 Kohima, April 15, 2025 – The Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU) has joined forces with the Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) and the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) to launch a peaceful agitation named the “Movement for Right to Equal Opportunity.” The protest, set to begin on April 16, 2025, at the Department of Higher Education, Nagaland Secretariat, opposes a government order from December 17, 2023, which the groups claim enables backdoor appointments of Assistant Professors and Librarians in violation of merit-based hiring principles.

The WSSU, representing students from the Sumi Naga tribe in western Nagaland, has been vocal about tribal issues, including fair access to education and employment. Their participation underscores broader concerns among Naga tribal communities about systemic inequities in government recruitment processes. “We stand with CTAN and NNQF to demand transparency and justice for all qualified candidates,” said a WSSU representative.

The coalition has also launched a digital campaign to raise awareness, encouraging public support through social media platforms. The movement highlights long-standing grievances, echoing the WSSU’s earlier memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 11, 2025, which addressed Northeast challenges like economic underdevelopment and the need for a Naga political solution.

Organizers have pledged to keep the agitation peaceful, calling for dialogue with the Nagaland government to address their demands. As the protest looms, the involvement of the WSSU signals strong tribal solidarity in the fight for equal opportunity.