Longleng, Aug. 4: The Phom Students’ Conference (PSC) sealed the office of the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Longleng, on August 3 after allegedly finding it closed and non-functional on multiple occasions during official working hours.
According to the PSC Inspection Convener, the inspection team visited the DCPU office more than seven to eight times during routine inspections but found it locked and unattended on every occasion. The team also revisited the office twice on the second day of inspection, but there was no response.
The convener said the inspection committee had served two press releases and repeatedly directed the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) and the DCPU staff to report before the PSC. Despite repeated warnings and telephonic communication informing the DCPO that the office would be sealed if the situation continued, no positive response was received.
As the office was once again found locked during official working hours on August 3, the PSC sealed the office and gave the concerned officer two days to submit an explanation before the conference.
The inspection convener said the committee had exercised patience by issuing several warnings before taking action. He stated that the decision to seal the office was taken only after repeated attempts to engage with the concerned officials failed. He further warned that the PSC would take similar action against any other government department found to be negligent in discharging its duties, adding that the issue was not personal but an institutional matter aimed at ensuring accountability in public offices.
Following the PSC’s press conference, the Department of Social Welfare, Mission Vatsalya, Government of Nagaland, issued a show-cause notice to the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), Longleng, on August 3. The notice cited reports of the DCPU office’s persistent non-functioning and referred to the PSC inspection, which found the office repeatedly closed during official working hours.
The department directed the DCPO to immediately restore the functioning of the office and submit a written explanation within 24 hours. It also ordered all DCPU staff to provide their explanations, stating that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated and salaries withheld with immediate effect over the alleged gross negligence of duty and unauthorized absence from office.
Speaking to Nagaland News Network on Tuesday, the PSC General Secretary and Inspection Convener welcomed the swift response of the higher authorities, stating that the issuance of the show-cause notices reflected prompt action following the conference’s press release and media briefing.
He further urged the government to thoroughly examine the attendance and service records of officers who fail to remain at their designated place of posting, stressing that government officials must remain accountable and ensure uninterrupted public service delivery.
