Relax Criteria for Rs 10,000 Financial Assistance: Naga Students' Federation to Govt

Guwahati:

Naga Students' Federation (NSF), the apex student body in the state of Nagaland, on Thursday has urged the Government to review the criteria to grant a one-time financial assistance of Rs 10,000.

NSF leaders earlier today met Chief Secretary Temjen Toy and urged the Government to review the criteria for extending the one time Financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 to citizens who are stranded and are willing to delay their return to the state.

The student leaders forwarded the suggestion for the same to be extended to everyone everyone fulfilling the primary requirement of 'Nagaland citizens presently staying outside who opt to stay back where they are at present' irrespective of whether they've registered in the 'returnee declaration Form' and their current location.

In response, the Chief Secretary assured that the matter will be seriously considered and that the state government is taking all possible steps in order to ensure that no citizens of the state suffer due to the lack of basic amenities on account of the lockdown.

Toy further pointed out that the government is currently screening the applications for financial assistance received thus far from those already registered to return to the state and assured that a decision will soon be taken by the government on those not registered in the 'Returnee Registration Form' and areas excluded in the existing criteria.

The Federation, appreciating the Cabinet decision to extend one time financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 each to stranded citizens presently staying outside who "opt to stay back", complained that "only those registered in the Returnee Declaration Form and presently reside outside the North Eastern states or reside in Sikkim" does to do justice to the purpose it seeks to serve.

"It has been communicated to the federation that many stranded citizens did not register in Returnee Declaration Form and volunteered to delay their journey considering the impending difficulties facing the state", said the NSF in its communique to the Government.

The student body in its communique suggested to the Government that the financial assistance be granted even to those not registered in Returnee Declaration Form and irrespective of the region where they are stranded.

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