EMN
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 19
Chief Minister TR Zeliang today said that the Government is working on a new recruitment policy whereby recruitment to various Government departments is not only fair and transparent but also judicious.
According to a press statement of the CMO, interacting with a delegation of the Chakhesang Students’ Union this afternoon at his residential office when the latter called on him to invite him to be the Chief Guest at their Conference in January next year, the Chief Minister said his Government was determined to check the anomalies in recruitment policies which of late, have been raised by several NGOs and individuals.
“The Education department which is attributed with almost 24% of the total salary component of the State Government has now started on a drive to check excess appointments made in the previous years. The department has decided not to appoint new recruits even after someone retires so that eventually, the excess appointees are adjusted within the sanctioned purview,” he said.
The students said they expect a system where everyone is given the opportunity to get employment and not only a selected few who have connections with people in the corridors of power.
“Not everyone is the child of a VIP or has political connections and it is not fair that only a few are given opportunities to get Government employment. Equal opportunity should be given to everyone. We are not talking of recruit eligible candidates, we are talking of recruiting the best among the eligible candidates,” they said.
The Chief Minister replied that he too was for transparent, free and fair recruitment to the vacancies.
“I have personally witnessed recruitment to the Army/ Assam Rifles on several occasions and I have noticed that everything was done in a transparent manner. The same should be applied even to our Police recruitments and I have discussed this with my colleagues on several occasions,” he said.
On backdoor appointment allegations, the Chief Minister had this to say: “Not every appointment can be pointed out as back door since due process as required by the rules is followed. Regularisations of services are done according to the followed rules and guidelines as laid down by the Government. But anyway, we have set up a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to verify the number of vacancies and also the number of recruitment done so as to ensure that the Cabinet decision to fill up only 50% of the vacancies is followed strictly,” the Chief Minister said.
On taking matter to the court, the Chief Minister said, “It may not prove to be very proper since the other day, when the ACAUT took the issue to court, the court had decided to refer the matter to the Union Government and this may take a long, long time to settle the matter. The Government is alive to the opinions raised by so many well-meaning organisations and the Government is doing its best to rectify any wrong-doing that is detected. I appeal to all to be a little more patient, give us time to look into the matter and take corrective measures so that justice can be delivered.”
